Encore: Donna Jean Godchaux-Mackay Is Grateful

Encore: Donna Jean Godchaux-Mackay Is Grateful

From Biscuits & Jam by Southern Living

November 25, 2025 · 48 min

About this episode

Sid Evans interviews singer Donna Jean Godchaux-Mackay about her musical journey and culinary loves.

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

People in this episode

Host: Sid Evans

Guest: Donna Jean Godchaux-Mackay

Topics covered

  • music
  • interviews
  • Southern cuisine
  • California cuisine
  • Grateful Dead
  • session singer

Keywords

  • Donna Jean Godchaux-Mackay
  • Grateful Dead
  • session singer
  • Southern cuisine
  • California cuisine
  • music history

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Southern Living, Grateful Dead

Places: Muscle Shoals, Alabama

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