Encore: Donna Jean Godchaux-Mackay Is Grateful

Biscuits & Jam

Meredith Corporation

Arts, Music Interviews, Music, Food

4.6 • 639 Ratings

🗓️ 25 November 2025

⏱️ 46 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In this week’s episode, Sid Evans, Editor-in-Chief of Southern Living Magazine, chats with Donna Jean Godchaux-Mackay, a singer who’s lent her voice to some of the most well known music of the last 60 years. She got her start as a session singer when just a teenager in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, and her voice helped songs from Percy Sledge and Elvis Presley become #1 hits. Eventually, she headed to California and made the transition from the studio to live performance after befriending Jerry Garcia and joining the Grateful Dead. She’s also got a love of both Southern and Californian cuisines and, of course, her grandmother’s delicious biscuits. For more info visit: southernliving.com/biscuitsandjam Sid Evans - Editor-in-Chief, Southern Living Krissy Tiglias - GM, Southern Living Lottie Leymarie - Executive Producer Michael Onufrak - Audio Engineer & Editor/Producer Jeremiah Lee McVay - Producer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	While all the whos of Whoville were at McDonald's eating, the Grinch from his lair started plotting and scheming.
0:06.3	Girkin flavored fries and odd socks will send them crackers. So try the Grinch's new meal and head down to Maccles.
0:15.2	Until 4th of Jan from 11 a.m. price and participation may vary while stocks last grinched for adults.
0:20.0	Hey, y'all, we're taking a break this week for Thanksgiving, but I wanted to reshare a
0:24.3	conversation that I had back in 2023 with Donna Jean Godshaw McKay, who passed away on November
0:31.5	2nd in Nashville, Tennessee.
0:34.4	Donna Jean was an Alabama native who got her start as a session singer in Muscle Shoals,
0:39.9	working with legends like Percy Sledge and Elvis Presley.
0:44.0	In 1972, she joined the Grateful Dead and performed with them until 1979,
0:49.9	earning her a place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
0:53.3	Later in life, she led several versions of the
0:55.8	Donna Jean Godshaw band, which featured members of Phil Leshen Friends, the Zen Tricksters,
1:01.1	and the Dark Star Orchestra, just to name a few. Dona Jean's remarkable career spanned more
1:06.5	than 55 years, but her musical legacy lives on, and I'll always be grateful that I had the chance to hear her story.
1:14.2	I hope y'all enjoy it.
1:24.0	Welcome to Biscuits and Jam from Southern Living. I'm Sid Evans, editor-in-chief of Southern Living
1:29.6	magazine, and I have a confession for y'all. I've been a fan of the Grateful Dead since I was in high
1:35.3	school, and today I'm very excited to be talking with someone who performed with that band for some of their most
1:41.5	formative years. Donna Jean Godshowo McKay got her start as a
1:46.4	session singer when she was just a teenager in Musselshould, Alabama, and her voice appeared on
1:52.2	iconic hits by Percy Sledge, Elvis Presley, Neil Diamond, and others. Eventually, she moved to California
2:00.3	in pursuit of adventure, and that's what
	...

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