Devastating news, just received from Dennis McNally: Donna Jean Godchaux-MacKay, former vocalist with the Grateful Dead, passed away surrounded by her family on November 2, 2025, at Alive Hospice in Nashville after a lengthy struggle with cancer. She is survived by her husband David MacKay, her son Kinsman MacKay and his wife Molly, her son Zion Godchaux and his son Delta, her sister Gogi Clark, and her brother Ivan Thatcher. Born Donna Jean Thatcher in Florence, Alabama, she became a session singer in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, and sang on two #1 songs: Percy Sledge’s “When a Man Loves a Woman” and Elvis Presley's “Suspicious Minds. Moving to California, she met and married pianist Keith Godchaux. She met the Dead’s Jerry Garcia, and introduced herself to him. Soon after, first Keith and then Donna Jean were part of the band. From 1971 to 1979 they toured America, Europe, and even Egypt. Sometime after Keith’s passing in a car accident, she married again. to David MacKay, in 1981. Returning to Muscle Shoals, she remained active in music with the Donna Jean Godchaux Band in partnership with her bassist husband David MacKay. She was a sweet and warmly beautiful spirit, and all those who knew her are united in loss. The family requests privacy at this time of grieving. In the words of Dead lyricist Robert Hunter, “May the four winds blow her safely home.”
1972-1979 were some primo GD years she was a part of. Seemed to mostly stay out of the spotlight after Keith died. She had her good and bad moments, and was a part of the tapestry of the band we love.
With a woman joining all the dudes on stage, everyone really was playing in the heart of gold band.
Donna did an AMA on Reddit a few years ago, and I asked her if she had ever awakened to the sound of street cats making love? Her reply was "I certainly have."
My first Grateful Dead-related live performance, making Donna my very first GD band member sighting (since K&D opened the show and I would have definitely noticed her):
December 2, 1975 Lisner Auditorium, GWU, Washington, DC Kingfish/ Keith and Donna with Kreutzmann (early and late)
Never got to see her with Jerry, but did get to see her with DSO at the Fillmore. They played Music Never Stopped and it felt like there was a collective holding of the breath and she nailed it. Just beautiful. RIP.
Written by Hunter for Janis, these lyrics also work Donna:
All I know is something like a bird
Within her sang
All I know she sang a little while
And then flew on
Tell me all that you know
I'll show you snow and rain
If you hear that same sweet song again
Will you know why?
Anyone who sings a tune so sweet
Is passin' by
Laugh in the sunshine, sing
Cry in the dark, fly through the night
Don't cry now, don't you cry
Don't you cry anymore, la, la, la, la
Sleep in the stars, don't you cry
Dry your eyes on the wind, la, la, la, la
If you hear that same sweet song again
Will you know why?
Anyone who sings a tune so sweet
Is passin' by
Laugh in the sunshine, sing
Cry in the dark, fly through the night
Don't cry now, don't you cry
Don't you cry anymore, la, la, la, la
Sleep in the stars, don't you cry
Dry your eyes on the wind, la, la, la, la
All I know is something like a bird
Within her sang
All I know she sang a little while
And then flew off
Tell me all that you know
I'll show you scarlet rain
Damn. Didn't see this coming. She took a lot of grief about her singing and role with the band which I personally never understood. Apparently the the group had no issues with her until Kieth's drug addiction became too much, which was good enough for me. I for one liked her. Added a different flavor to the band. Another sad day in Deadhead land. RIP Donna
Sad to hear that she passed and she sounds like an amazing person. However, more than a few Playing in the Bands were ruined by her screaming in the middle of an amazing jam.
I first saw Donna with the Jerry Garcia Band and I saw her with the GD three times at the very end of her time with them, my first three GD shows, which all happened to be pretty epic shows. In the room her singing was more blended in the sound and didn't stand out like it does on tape, especially soundboards, so that never bothered me.
Mainly I thought she looked cool up there, her gentle swaying in her long dresses adding some flow to the otherwise stoic look to the group, and my being just 18 and new to it all Donna was just a natural part of the group and I missed her after she left.
It didn't hurt that in all the years of listening to many, many shows with Donna I've always thought that 12/31/78, my second show, was the best I've ever heard her. IMO she is brilliant from start to finish on that one, and is always the show I go to when defending her from haters.
But my best moment with Donna was when she sang with Phil & Friends at the Warfield on 4/16/99, the second show of the first true Phil Lesh & Friends run with Trey, Page McConnell, Kimock and Molo.
The first night had been such a mindblower for me, a thrilling revelation that "it" still existed after I was sure it was gone forever, and I was skeptical if that would carry over to the next night. The first set was as snapping as the night before and that, along with some serious partying with a group of eight friends had me flying high when they opened the second set with Bertha.
I was feeling so good that I didn't notice for a moment that there was a woman singing with the band, and having not seen Donna in over 20 years it took me a minute to realize that it was Donna Jean Godchaux.
For some reason, likely due to her being associated with my beginnings with the Grateful Dead and now in the middle of a joyous and very unexpected revival of that, her being up there hit me hard and I got emotional. It really was something else.
Was she the best singer? Nope, but she had many great moments, she was in the band through a significant portion of their greatest times and Jerry Garcia liked her, which in most things has pretty much always been good enough for me.
Donna Jean Godchaux was and is now forever one of the Grateful Dead, and I loved her.
So Sad ! I didn't know she was sick, RIP to a big part of my live music...her years were my years also. I enjoyed her part in the whole mix...it was after all that I knew in those early years.
My first ever show, and my now hubby of 14 yrs...was there also <3.
I attended 11 Donna shows in the 70s. She was usually on key. The scream in Playin' and the wailing in Scarlet didn't bother me. Vocally, I think I liked the Jerry-Bob-Phil harmonies a bit better, but Donna was OK by me.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Alan R
oh shit
oh shit
thanks for the memories
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Alan R
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Joe Buck is Back
AM)
RIP
Devastating news, just received from Dennis McNally: Donna Jean Godchaux-MacKay, former vocalist with the Grateful Dead, passed away surrounded by her family on November 2, 2025, at Alive Hospice in Nashville after a lengthy struggle with cancer. She is survived by her husband David MacKay, her son Kinsman MacKay and his wife Molly, her son Zion Godchaux and his son Delta, her sister Gogi Clark, and her brother Ivan Thatcher. Born Donna Jean Thatcher in Florence, Alabama, she became a session singer in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, and sang on two #1 songs: Percy Sledge’s “When a Man Loves a Woman” and Elvis Presley's “Suspicious Minds. Moving to California, she met and married pianist Keith Godchaux. She met the Dead’s Jerry Garcia, and introduced herself to him. Soon after, first Keith and then Donna Jean were part of the band. From 1971 to 1979 they toured America, Europe, and even Egypt. Sometime after Keith’s passing in a car accident, she married again. to David MacKay, in 1981. Returning to Muscle Shoals, she remained active in music with the Donna Jean Godchaux Band in partnership with her bassist husband David MacKay. She was a sweet and warmly beautiful spirit, and all those who knew her are united in loss. The family requests privacy at this time of grieving. In the words of Dead lyricist Robert Hunter, “May the four winds blow her safely home.”
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Philzone Refugee
1972-1979 were some primo GD
1972-1979 were some primo GD years she was a part of. Seemed to mostly stay out of the spotlight after Keith died. She had her good and bad moments, and was a part of the tapestry of the band we love.
With a woman joining all the dudes on stage, everyone really was playing in the heart of gold band.
Peace Sister Donna.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: intentionally blank
Donna did an AMA on Reddit a
Donna did an AMA on Reddit a few years ago, and I asked her if she had ever awakened to the sound of street cats making love? Her reply was "I certainly have."
RIP Donna Jean.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Sun so hot, clouds so low
Rest in Peace dear Donna
Rest in Peace dear Donna
May the four winds blow you safely home
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Philzone Refugee
This write-up is decent:
This write-up is decent:
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/donna-jean-dead-grateful-d...
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Philzone Refugee
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Alan R
Some interesting research re
Some interesting research re the Keith and Donna Band:
https://lostlivedead.blogspot.com/2009/09/keith-and-donna-band-tour-hist...
My first Grateful Dead-related live performance, making Donna my very first GD band member sighting (since K&D opened the show and I would have definitely noticed her):
December 2, 1975 Lisner Auditorium, GWU, Washington, DC Kingfish/ Keith and Donna with Kreutzmann (early and late)
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: El Nino
Never got to see her with
Never got to see her with Jerry, but did get to see her with DSO at the Fillmore. They played Music Never Stopped and it felt like there was a collective holding of the breath and she nailed it. Just beautiful. RIP.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Philzone Refugee
Written by Hunter for Janis,
Written by Hunter for Janis, these lyrics also work Donna:
All I know is something like a bird
Within her sang
All I know she sang a little while
And then flew on
Tell me all that you know
I'll show you snow and rain
If you hear that same sweet song again
Will you know why?
Anyone who sings a tune so sweet
Is passin' by
Laugh in the sunshine, sing
Cry in the dark, fly through the night
Don't cry now, don't you cry
Don't you cry anymore, la, la, la, la
Sleep in the stars, don't you cry
Dry your eyes on the wind, la, la, la, la
If you hear that same sweet song again
Will you know why?
Anyone who sings a tune so sweet
Is passin' by
Laugh in the sunshine, sing
Cry in the dark, fly through the night
Don't cry now, don't you cry
Don't you cry anymore, la, la, la, la
Sleep in the stars, don't you cry
Dry your eyes on the wind, la, la, la, la
All I know is something like a bird
Within her sang
All I know she sang a little while
And then flew off
Tell me all that you know
I'll show you scarlet rain
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Joe Buck is Back
I saw her years ago with DSO
I saw her years ago with DSO at the Fillmore too. Her singing on Sisters and Brothers was magical.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Sigmund
Nooooooo
Nooooooo
I Willi Always Love You Donna!! RIP
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Philzone Refugee
3/17/78 JGB at Capitol
3/17/78 JGB at Capitol Theater, Passaic, New Jersey
"I'll Be With Thee"
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Oc1UhRUTKsU&list=RDOc1UhRUTKsU&start_radio...
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: krab
Her finest moments for me
Her finest moments for me were backing Garcia on Sing Me Back Home in '72.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Philzone Refugee
"Sing Me Back Home"
"Sing Me Back Home"
Veneta Fairgrounds, Oregon 8/27/72
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=DOjZz0HB7R8&list=RDDOjZz0HB7R8&start_radio...
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Philzone Refugee
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Roarshock
Rest In Peace, Donna.
Rest In Peace, Donna.
And thank you.
You have arrived at Eternity. We will all be there together by and by.
The music will never stop.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Bob
Damn. Didn't see this coming.
Damn. Didn't see this coming. She took a lot of grief about her singing and role with the band which I personally never understood. Apparently the the group had no issues with her until Kieth's drug addiction became too much, which was good enough for me. I for one liked her. Added a different flavor to the band. Another sad day in Deadhead land. RIP Donna
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: fishcane
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Jay Sunshine
^^Her finest moments for me
^^Her finest moments for me were backing Garcia on Sing Me Back Home in '72.^^
I concur. Stunning and sublime, just another timeless moment in what I consider to be the greatest Grateful Dead concert ever played.
For some reason this song is in my head when thinking about members passed away. I consider the word 'man' to mean Human here, for reference.
R.I.P. DJG
https://youtu.be/47-ShciqkDo?si=1QkuiEJ39wY5enK7
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Harold
Sad to hear that she passed
Sad to hear that she passed and she sounds like an amazing person. However, more than a few Playing in the Bands were ruined by her screaming in the middle of an amazing jam.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Zzzzzz
Died on the day of the dead
Died on the day of the dead-rightfully so.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: fishcane
More members have passed on
More members have passed on than are left ?
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Woz
Sad to hear. I saw her at my
Sad to hear. I saw her at my first few shows. I did not expect this today....came out of nowhere.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: fishcane
According to Mike Falzarano
According to Mike Falzarano she's been sick for some time and was in hospice
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Lance just me Newberry
I saw her with the GD three
I first saw Donna with the Jerry Garcia Band and I saw her with the GD three times at the very end of her time with them, my first three GD shows, which all happened to be pretty epic shows. In the room her singing was more blended in the sound and didn't stand out like it does on tape, especially soundboards, so that never bothered me.
Mainly I thought she looked cool up there, her gentle swaying in her long dresses adding some flow to the otherwise stoic look to the group, and my being just 18 and new to it all Donna was just a natural part of the group and I missed her after she left.
It didn't hurt that in all the years of listening to many, many shows with Donna I've always thought that 12/31/78, my second show, was the best I've ever heard her. IMO she is brilliant from start to finish on that one, and is always the show I go to when defending her from haters.
But my best moment with Donna was when she sang with Phil & Friends at the Warfield on 4/16/99, the second show of the first true Phil Lesh & Friends run with Trey, Page McConnell, Kimock and Molo.
The first night had been such a mindblower for me, a thrilling revelation that "it" still existed after I was sure it was gone forever, and I was skeptical if that would carry over to the next night. The first set was as snapping as the night before and that, along with some serious partying with a group of eight friends had me flying high when they opened the second set with Bertha.
I was feeling so good that I didn't notice for a moment that there was a woman singing with the band, and having not seen Donna in over 20 years it took me a minute to realize that it was Donna Jean Godchaux.
For some reason, likely due to her being associated with my beginnings with the Grateful Dead and now in the middle of a joyous and very unexpected revival of that, her being up there hit me hard and I got emotional. It really was something else.
Was she the best singer? Nope, but she had many great moments, she was in the band through a significant portion of their greatest times and Jerry Garcia liked her, which in most things has pretty much always been good enough for me.
Donna Jean Godchaux was and is now forever one of the Grateful Dead, and I loved her.
On it goes.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: comic book colors on a violin river...
So Sad ! I didn't know she
So Sad ! I didn't know she was sick, RIP to a big part of my live music...her years were my years also. I enjoyed her part in the whole mix...it was after all that I knew in those early years.
My first ever show, and my now hubby of 14 yrs...was there also <3.
https://jerrygarcia.com/show/1974-08-04-philadelphia-civic-arena-philade...
https://archive.org/details/gd74-08-04.aud-moore.weiner.20369.sbeok.shnf
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: DZ
who/dead Day on the green 72
who/dead Day on the green 72 Oakland coliseum
cropped
photo credit Doug Osmundson
fyi Doug graduated from Berkeley High School in 1965...
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: DZ
.
.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: The Eggman
What a bummer. I saw Donna at
What a bummer. I saw Donna at my first show in '79 and never saw her sing live again. R.I.P. Donna Jean.
To Lance's point, "From the Heart of Me" on 12/31/78 is Donna at her finest, to me, anyway.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Woz
I too saw her at my first
I too saw her at my first show. Sad news, and unexpected. That one came out of left field.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Def. High
I attended 11 Donna shows in
I attended 11 Donna shows in the 70s. She was usually on key. The scream in Playin' and the wailing in Scarlet didn't bother me. Vocally, I think I liked the Jerry-Bob-Phil harmonies a bit better, but Donna was OK by me.
RIP Donna.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: intentionally blank
My first show was in November
My first show was in November 78, so I got to catch Keith and Donna once.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: treat island
I never saw a show with Keith
I never saw a show with Keith and/or Donna. I missed those years.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Sigmund
Passenger is also very rowdy
Passenger is also very rowdy
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Joe Buck is Back
https://www.dropbox.com/scl
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/oplwqip3slg65luzphscv/Donna-Tribute.mp3?r...