Donna Jean Godchaux-MacKay, whose voice became entwined with the Grateful Dead’s adventurous sound in the 1970s and whose earlier career saw her singing on soul and rock classics, has died. She passed away on November 2, 2025, at a hospice in Nashville after a “lengthy battle with cancer,” according to her family.
Born Donna Jean Thatcher in Florence, Alabama, in 1947, she first made her mark as a session singer in the Muscle Shoals and Memphis studios, contributing backing vocals to hits such as Percy Sledge’s “When a Man Loves a Woman” and Elvis Presley’s “Suspicious Minds.” In 1970 she married keyboardist Keith Godchaux, and the two joined the Grateful Dead in 1971–72. During her tenure, she lent her soaring harmonies and occasional lead vocals to pivotal albums like Terrapin Station and From the Mars Hotel.
The Godchauxs left the Dead in 1979 to explore new musical paths; tragically, Keith died in a car accident the following year. Donna later married bassist David MacKay and revived her artistic voice through projects such as Donna Jean & the Tricksters and the Donna Jean Godchaux Band. She was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with the Grateful Dead in 1994.
Her passing is mourned across the music world, with fans and fellow musicians praising her warm, expressive spirit and her willingness to bridge musical genres. She is survived by husband David MacKay, her sons, and siblings.
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