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Mavis Staples (photo by Elizabeth De La Piedra)
Mavis Staples has announced her 14th solo album, Sad and Beautiful World, due out on November 7 via ANTI-. It was produced by Phil Cook, with Buddy Guy, Bonnie Raitt, Jeff Tweedy, Katie Crutchfield, MJ Lenderman, Justin Vernon, and Derek Trucks all making appearances on it. See the tracklist below.
The album includes her cover of Frank Ocean’s “Godspeed” from June, and she’s shared another track, a rendition of Kevin Morby’s “Beautiful Strangers,” which you can hear below. “It isn’t easy to put into words what it feels like having one of the best, most important vocalists and cultural figures of both the 20th and 21st century sing one of my songs,” Morby says. “But hearing Mavis sing ‘Beautiful Strangers’ is hands down the greatest moment and highest honor of my career. Far beyond any kind of accolade or acclaim — having one of my biggest heroes sing something I wrote is the most validating and flattering thing that could ever happen to me as a songwriter and person. Thank you, Mavis. Mavis also wields that extremely rare power to take a song somebody else wrote and make it entirely her own. As the person who penned ‘Beautiful Strangers’ I feel I have every right to say; her version is better.”
Mavis will be on tour this fall and has announced a few shows in early 2026, including an NYC show at Beacon Theatre on February 28 with Allison Russell. Tickets go on sale Friday, September 5 at 10 AM local, with various presales starting Wednesday, September 3 at 10 AM local.
MAVIS STAPLES – SAD AND BEAUTIFUL WORLD TRACKLIST
1. Chicago
2. Beautiful Strangers
3. Sad And Beautiful World
4. Human Mind
5. Hard Times
6. Godspeed
7. We Got To Have Peace
8. Anthem
9. Satisfied Mind
10. Everybody Needs Love
MAVIS STAPLES: 2025-2026 TOUR DATES
September 6 – Lone Tree, CO @ Lone Tree Arts Center
September 11 – Solana Beach, CA @ Belly Up Tavern
September 13 – Napa, CA @ Blue Note Summer Sessions
October 1 – Stoughton, WI @ Stoughton Opera House
October 2 – Stoughton, WI @ Stoughton Opera House
October 4 – Memphis, TN @ Mempho Fest
October 9 – Tucson, AZ @ Fox Theatre
October 11 – Prescott, AZ @ Jim & Linda Lee Performing Arts Center
October 12 – Chandler, AZ @ Chandler Center for the Arts
January 10 – Chicago, IL @ Chicago Theatre (w/ support from Nathaniel Rateliff solo)
January 24 – Nashville, TN @ Ryman Auditorium
February 28 – New York, NY @ Beacon Theatre (w/ support from Allison Russell)
English (US) · 