- Alabama Life & Culture
- Updated: Nov. 04, 2025, 9:45 a.m.
- Published: Nov. 03, 2025, 12:04 p.m.
Donna Jean Godchaux-MacKay performs onstage with Dead & Co at the 2016 Bonnaroo Arts And Music Festival. Godchaux-MacKay, a former Grateful Dead singer and Muscle Shoals native, died Nov. 2, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic/Getty)Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic/Getty
Donna Jean Godchaux-MacKay’s fondest memories singing with the Grateful Dead included three 1978 shows in Egypt, where they performed in front of the Great Pyramid.
“Those were really exciting, fulfilling deep times and we had a blast in Egypt,” Godchaux-MacKay told AL.com in 2016. “Not only were there the concerts we did, and the venue was filled to capacity, we took a three-day trip down the Nile on a private boat and that was just one of the most glorious experiences of my life.”
Matt Wake has been an al.com staff writer since 2012, focusing on music, food and entertainment. He’s also written for outlets including Rolling Stone, SPIN, Billboard, LA Weekly, Guitar World, Revolver, Metal… more
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
