Mavis Staples Named 2016 Kennedy Center Honoree
Just announced, Mavis Staples has been selected to receive a 2016 Kennedy Center Honor.
The Honors are given to those in the performing arts for a lifetime of contributions to American culture. There is an early-evening White House reception hosted by The President and Mrs. Obama, followed by a gala performance at the Kennedy Center Opera House which will be attended by the president and first lady as well.
As Kennedy Center Chairman David M. Rubenstein explains, “These Honorees represent what is possible when creativity is not just cultivated, but unleashed. Mavis Staples’ unmatched gospel and rhythm and blues masterpieces span 60 years and even served as a musical backdrop to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s campaign for Civil Rights.”
The performance will be broadcast on CBS on December 27, 9:00 p.m. ET.
It has been an undeniably prolific year for the legendary Staples. Her recent album Livin’ On A High Note was released to unanimous acclaim, Rolling Stone naming it as one of their “Best Albums of 2016 so far” and writing “Staples takes her comeback higher still with this set, using an A list of songwriters informed, but not bound, by roots music. Valerie June, Ben Harper, Justin Vernon, Aloe Blacc and Nick Cave all rise powerfully to the occasion.” The Boston Globe called the album “stunningly fresh and cutting edge.”
Staples also won a Grammy in the Best American Roots Performance category for her rendition of “See That My Grave Is Kept Clean.” A feature length documentary on the her storied life entitled MAVIS! aired on HBO and she is currently on tour with Bob Dylan in what has become one of most anticipated tours of the summer.
Live Dates (with Bob Dylan)
June 24 - Highland Park, IL - Ravinia Festival
June 25 - Indianapolis, IN - Farm Bureau Insurance Lawn at White River State Park
June 26 - Nashville, TN - Carl Black Chevy Woods Amphitheater
June 28 - Kettering, OH - Fraze Pavilion
June 29 - Toledo, OH - Toledo Zoo Amphitheatre
June 30 - Lewiston, NY - Artpark
July 2 - Lenox, MA - Tanglewood
July 3 - Mashantucket, CT - Foxwoods Resort Casino
July 5 & 6 - Vienna, VA - Wolf Trap
July 8 - Queens, NY - Forest Hills Stadium
July 12 - Canandaigua, NY - CMAC
July 13 - Philadelphia, PA - The Mann Center
July 14 - Boston, MA - Blue Hills Bank Pavilion
July 16 - Portland, ME - Thompson's Point
July 17 - Gilford, NH - Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion