“She was a sweet and warmly beautiful spirit,” McNally said. “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.’”

Born in August 1947, Donna Jean Godchaux-MacKay became a member of the Grateful Dead in 1971, joining alongside her husband Keith Godchaux, who played keyboards. Her voice is prominently featured on several of the band’s albums, including Europe ’72, Wake of the Flood, and Terrapin Station. She remained with the group until early 1979, performing her last show on February 17 of that year. Keith Godchaux also departed the band at the same time.

In 1975, Donna Jean and Keith released a joint album. Tragically, Keith died years later after suffering severe head injuries in a car accident on his 32nd birthday. He was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994 as a member of the Grateful Dead.

The couple had one child together, a son named Zion.

Following Keith’s death, Donna Jean married bassist David MacKay. They had a son, Kinsman MacKay, and remained married until her passing.

Both of her sons pursued careers in music.

In a 2016 interview with AL.com, Donna Jean Godchaux-MacKay reflected on her early connection to music. “I was singing from pretty much as soon as I could talk,” she said. “I remember very distinctly when I was 6 years old, I knew I was going to be a singer and I would sit out on my back porch and sing on the top of my lungs every day.”

She also recalled her experience working with Elvis Presley on his 1969 single “Suspicious Minds” as “one of the most amazing times” of her life. Donna Jean described Presley as “so kind to us and encouraging and complimentary… And he looked great. I’m telling you, he was the most gorgeous human being I’ve ever seen.”