Former Grateful Dead vocalist Donna Jean Godchaux-MacKay has died. She was 78.

A spokesperson confirms to The Associated Press that Godchaux-MacKay died Sunday in Nashville. ABC Audio has reached out for comment.

Godchaux-MacKay was a member of the Dead from 1971 to 1979, and sang on albums including 1974’s From the Mars Hotel and 1977’s Terrapin Station, as well as the 1972 live album Europe ’72. Her then-husband, Keith Godchaux, played piano in the band during that time.

Upon leaving the Dead, the Godchauxs formed the Heart of Gold Band before Godchaux was killed in a car accident in 1980. Both Godchaux-MacKay and Godchaux were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with Grateful Dead in 1994.

Outside of her work with the Dead, Godchaux-MacKay was known for providing backup vocals on hits including Elvis Presley‘s “Suspicious Minds” and Percy Sledge‘s “When a Man Loves a Woman.” She also contributed to albums by artists such as Cher and Boz Scaggs.

In 2007, Godchaux-MacKay formed her namesake Donna Jean Godchaux Band.

Copyright © 2025, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.