Donna Jean Godchaux-MacKay, the beloved vocalist who sang with the Grateful Dead throughout the 1970s and contributed backup vocals on iconic ’60s hits by Elvis Presley and Percy Sledge, has died at 78 after a long battle with cancer. Joining the Grateful Dead in 1971 with her husband Keith, she became a distinctive part of the band’s classic era, appearing on landmark albums like Europe ’72, Wake of the Flood, and Terrapin Station, and countless legendary live recordings including the fan-favorite Cornell ’77 performance and the Dead’s memorable shows at the Giza pyramid in Egypt in 1978. Before that, she was a sought-after session singer in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, lending her voice to classics like Sledge’s “When a Man Loves a Woman” and Presley’s “Suspicious Minds,” while also singing on tracks by Duane Allman, Cher, Neil Diamond, and Boz Scaggs.
After the Godchauxs left the Dead in 1979, the couple continued making music together until Keith’s tragic death in a car accident in 1980. Donna then continued her musical career with her own bands and various collaborations, releasing her final album, Back Around, in 2014. Grateful Dead paid tribute to Godchaux with a heartfelt post on Instagram, writing in the caption: “Her unmistakable voice and radiant spirit touched the lives of countless fans and immeasurably enriched the Grateful Dead family. Her contributions will forever remain part of the tapestry that continues to be woven.” (Rolling Stone)
