Mavis Staples from The Staples Singers and Jeff Tweedy, frontman of the band Wilco, reunited to give an extraordinary performance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. It was powerful not only because of her iconic soulful vocals but also in the song’s important message. At 85 years old, she’s still as talented as ever and commands the stage!
They performed live their powerful rendition of “Freedom Highway” which was originally written by Roebuck “Pops” Staples, Mavis’s father, in 1965. The inspiration coming from the civil rights marches from Selma to Montgomery which was led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr and played a important role in fighting for equal rights in the U.S. It even became an anthem for the civil rights movement.
The message of the song really comes through in Mavis’ incredible and emotional singing. She has been a longtime advocate for civil rights and is now recognized as a legendary figure in music. 
Her and Jeff Tweedy have collabed before and the energy they bounce off each other is captivating!
She was also a surprise performer at the 2024 Newport Folk Festival. Conan O’Brien introduced her after his set with saying “….the one, the only, Mavis Staples!” and even bowing to her, giving her the honor she deserves! You can feel her charisma as soon as she steps on stage! She performed her number 1 hit “I’ll Take You There” from her band The Staples Singers. Her performance really stole the show! You can watch it below.
