Jackie Venson / Mavis Staples

-"Austin City Limits" presents a rising star from Austin making her "ACL" debut -- Jackie Venson.

-♪ Green and hate, manipulation in all of time ♪ ♪ Love transcends ♪ ♪♪ -And a special encore performance from a true legend.

Mavis Staples.

-♪ March for freedom's highway ♪ ♪ March each and every day ♪♪ -♪ I'll get over losing... ♪ -With special guest Bonnie Raitt.

-♪ But I'll never get over losing you ♪ ♪♪ -♪ All my favorite colors ♪ ♪ Whah ♪ ♪ All my favorite colors ♪ ♪ Yes, ma'am ♪ ♪ My sisters and my brothers ♪ ♪ See 'em like no other ♪ ♪ All my favorite colors ♪ ♪♪ ♪ It's good day to be, a good day for me ♪ ♪ A good day to see my favorite colors ♪ ♪ Colors ♪ ♪ My sisters and my brothers ♪ ♪ They see 'em like no other ♪ ♪ All my favorite colors ♪ -Now an Austin singer-songwriter and guitarist who brings passion, emotion, and truth to her music -- Jackie Venson.

[ "Make Me Feel" plays ] ♪♪ -♪ And so now the story goes ♪ ♪ I fall in love ♪ ♪ Floating free in outer space ♪ ♪ I'm always falling ♪ ♪ Day by day, I'm in the clouds ♪ ♪ My faith is blinding ♪ ♪ Even though I know it's love ♪ ♪ It still feels new ♪ ♪ You make me feel so good ♪ ♪ Don't know what I'd do without you ♪ ♪ You make me feel so good ♪ ♪ And I never wanna be without you in my life ♪ ♪ There's a line that separates ♪ ♪ Good from crazy ♪ ♪ It's very fine, but I have learned how to navigate ♪ ♪ I fell in love, and I fell hard ♪ ♪ So let it take me ♪ ♪ It is here for me to live, so I will live ♪ ♪ You make me feel so good ♪ ♪ Don't know what I'd do without you ♪ ♪ You make me feel so good ♪ ♪ And I never wanna be without you in my life ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ I don't care what they say ♪ ♪ They will go theirs, and I will go my way ♪ ♪♪ ♪ I don't need to explain ♪ ♪ I will not try to quantify ♪ ♪ This is God's language ♪ ♪♪ ♪ And I will sing ♪ ♪ I will spread love's comfort and healing ♪ ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ -♪ Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh ♪ ♪ Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh ♪ ♪ Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh ♪ ♪ Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh ♪ -♪ He has given his hand to me ♪ ♪ I will do the same ♪ ♪ Walk with him ♪ ♪ Walk with him ♪ ♪ Walk with him ♪ ♪ Walk with him ♪ ♪ I will do my best by him ♪ ♪ I will not give up ♪ ♪ Walk with him ♪ ♪ Walk with him ♪ ♪ Walk with him ♪ ♪ Walk with him ♪ ♪ Even in our darkest hours ♪ ♪ I'll stand by his side ♪ ♪ Walk with him ♪ ♪ Walk with him ♪ ♪ Walk with him ♪ ♪ Walk with h-i-i-i-im ♪ -♪ Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh ♪ -♪ Walk with h-i-i-i-im ♪ -♪ Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh ♪ -[ Scatting with guitar notes ] -♪ Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh ♪ ♪ Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh ♪ ♪ Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh ♪ ♪ Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh ♪ ♪ Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh ♪ ♪ Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh ♪ ♪ Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh ♪ ♪ Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh ♪ ♪ Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh ♪ ♪ Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh ♪ -♪ Walk with him ♪ ♪ Walk with him ♪ ♪ Walk with him ♪ ♪ Walk with him ♪ [ Song ends ] [ Cheers and applause ] -Thanks so much.

[ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ Black lives matter.

Not the hashtag.

Not the slogan.

Not the organization.

But actual lives.

Me, my family, my band.

We matter.

And until we can stand on the same page, we're just going to remain complicit living in a society where some people can murder other people and not feel any legal repercussions.

That's the world we live in.

That's the country we live in.

And, like, we don't have to get along.

Like, we don't have to talk to each other.

We don't have to agree on everything.

But we do absolutely have to stand on the same moral ground.

If we can't all stand on the same moral ground, then the fabric of our society is threatened.

Say their names.

♪♪ [ "Back to Earth" intro plays ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ -♪ "Dance," he said ♪ ♪ "Dance like you'll never dance again" ♪ ♪ "Laugh," he said ♪ ♪ "Laugh like you'll never laugh again" ♪ ♪ He died a young man but seemed an old man ♪ ♪ He saw not the end but a way to begin again ♪ ♪ Tell me once, tell me twice ♪ ♪ Tell me that I'll never die ♪ ♪ When you lie ♪ ♪ Won't you please tell me why?

♪ ♪ When you can't ♪ ♪ Then I'll search for the answers ♪ ♪ But I'll get lost ♪ ♪ And find more to wonder ♪ ♪ Like why the dead man knows it all ♪ ♪ And why I feel alone ♪ ♪ And why I try to fly ♪ ♪ But always fall ♪ ♪ Back to Earth ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ And when I die ♪ ♪ I'll know it all ♪ ♪ And I accept ♪ ♪ That I am alone ♪ ♪ And I will try to fly ♪ ♪ But I will fall ♪ ♪ Back to Earth ♪ [ Finale plays ] ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] I'd like to welcome to the stage Austin's Empress of Soul, Tameca Jones.

[ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ [ "Texas Flood" intro plays ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ -♪ Well, it's floodin' down in Texas ♪ ♪ And all the telephone lines are down ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Yeah, there's a flood down in Texas ♪ ♪♪ ♪ And all of the telephone lines are down ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Mmm ♪ ♪ Ooh, I tried to call my baby ♪ ♪ Man, I can't get a single sound ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Whoo!

♪ ♪♪ ♪ Ooh, dark clouds are rollin' in ♪ ♪ And ♪ ♪ Man, I'm standin' out here in the rain, unh ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ ♪ The dark clouds are rollin' in, yeah ♪ ♪ Man, I'm just standin' out here in the rain ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Oh, the flood water keep on rollin' ♪ ♪ Yeah, it's about to drive poor me insane ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ ♪ And yeah ♪ ♪ Ye-a-a-a-ah ♪ ♪♪ Whoo!

♪♪ ♪♪ [ Laughs ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Yeah, I'm leavin' you, baby ♪ ♪♪ ♪ And I'm goin' back home to stay ♪ ♪♪ ♪ I said I'm leavin' you, baby ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ ♪ Man, I'm goin' back home to stay ♪ ♪ Unh, uh-huh ♪ ♪ Uh-huh, yeah ♪ ♪ All I know there's no floods and tornadoes ♪ ♪ Man, the sun shines every day ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ ♪♪ Whoo!

[ Finale plays ] ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] -Give it up for Tameca Jones.

Austin's Empress of Soul.

[ Cheers and applause ] [ "Transcends" plays ] ♪♪ ♪ He said he shot my brother all of those years ♪ ♪ All of those years ago dead ♪ ♪ They done forgot my brother and all of those tears ♪ ♪ All of those tears that we shed ♪ ♪ Fight back that bitterness that's hunted us down ♪ ♪ Making us turn on ourselves ♪ ♪ Always divide and conquer ♪ ♪ I can see now ♪ ♪ I can see now what's been done ♪ ♪ Fire to fight ♪ ♪ Hear my cry ♪ ♪ I won't lie down, never ♪ ♪ Fire to fight ♪ ♪ Lose my sight ♪ ♪ Time to mend ♪ ♪ Love transcends ♪ ♪ Death, destruction, exploitation ♪ ♪ Love transcends ♪ ♪ Shame, regret, mass confusion ♪ ♪ Love transcends ♪ ♪ Greed and hate, manipulation and all of time ♪ ♪ Love transcends ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Watch as the fearful people stifle us all ♪ ♪ Making us see what they see ♪ ♪ Danger 'round every corner is what they believe ♪ ♪ One must learn to break free ♪ ♪ Fire to fight ♪ ♪ Hear my cry ♪ ♪ I won't lie down, never ♪ ♪ Fire to fight ♪ ♪ Lose my sight ♪ ♪ Time to mend ♪ ♪ Love transcends ♪ ♪ Death, destruction, exploitation ♪ ♪ Love transcends ♪ ♪ Shame, regret, mass confusion ♪ ♪ Love transcends ♪ ♪ Greed and hate, manipulation and all of time ♪ ♪ Love transcends ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Whisper words of revolution ♪ ♪ Sowing seeds of days to come ♪ ♪ Pray for peace and absolution ♪ ♪ There is power in our tongues ♪ ♪ Love transcends ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] -Next, an encore performance from 2012 with R&B and gospel music legend Mavis Staples, with special guest Bonnie Raitt.

♪♪ -♪ Didn't old Pharaoh ♪ -♪ Get lost ♪ ♪ Get lost ♪ ♪ Get lost ♪ -♪ Didn't old Pharaoh ♪ -♪ Get lost ♪ ♪ Yes ♪ ♪ Tryin' to cross the Red Sea ♪ -♪ Ol' Satan, wears an old iron shoe ♪ -♪ Tryin' to cross the Red Sea ♪ -♪ If you don't mind, he'll slip it on you ♪ -♪ Tryin' to cross the Red Sea ♪ -♪ I wonder what the devil keeps a-grumblin' about ♪ -♪ Tryin' to cross the Red Sea ♪ -♪ He's down in hell, and he can't get out ♪ -♪ Tryin' to cross the Red Sea ♪ -♪ Now, creep along, Moses, Moses, creep along ♪ ♪ Creep along, Moses, I thank God ♪ ♪ Creep along, Moses ♪ -♪ Moses, creep along ♪ -♪ Creep along, Moses ♪ -♪ I'm going home ♪ -♪ Creep, creep, creep along, Moses ♪ ♪ Creep along, Moses, I thank God ♪ ♪ Creep, creep, creep along, Moses ♪ ♪ Creep along, Moses, I'm goin' home ♪ -♪ Didn't old Pharaoh ♪ -♪ Get lost ♪ ♪ Yes ♪ ♪ Tryin' to cross the Red Sea ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ -♪ Went down in the valley to say a little prayer ♪ -♪ Tryin' to cross the Red Sea ♪ -♪ When I got there, ol' Satan was there ♪ -♪ Tryin' to cross the Red Sea ♪ -♪ And I fell down upon my knees ♪ -♪ Tryin' to cross the Red Sea ♪ -♪ I cried, "Lord have mercy, if you please" ♪ -♪ Tryin' to cross the Red Sea ♪ -♪ Now, creep along, Moses, Moses, creep along ♪ ♪ Creep along, Moses, I thank God ♪ ♪ Creep along, Moses ♪ -♪ Moses, creep along ♪ -♪ Creep along, Moses ♪ -♪ I'm going home ♪ -♪ Creep, creep, creep along, Moses ♪ ♪ Creep along, Moses, I thank God ♪ ♪ Creep, creep, creep along ♪ -♪ Creep along ♪ -♪ Creep along, Moses, I'm goin' home ♪ -♪ Didn't old Pharaoh ♪ -♪ Get lost ♪ ♪ Get lost ♪ ♪ Get lost ♪ -♪ Didn't old Pharaoh ♪ -♪ Get lost ♪ ♪ Yes ♪ ♪ Tryin' to cross the Red Sea ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Tryin' to cross the Red Sea ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Tryin' to cross the Red Sea ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Tryin' to cross the Red Sea ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Tryin' to cross the Red S-e-e-e-ea ♪ -♪ Yeah ♪ [ Song ends ] [ Cheers and applause ] Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

But, now, we come this evening to bring you some joy... [ Cheers and applause ] ...some happiness... [ Cheers and applause ] ...inspiration... [ Cheers and applause ] ...and some positive vibrations.

[ Cheers and applause ] All right!

[ "Wrote a Song for Everyone" plays ] ♪♪ ♪ Met myself a comin' ♪ ♪ County welfare line ♪ ♪ I was a-feelin' strung out ♪ ♪ Hung out on the line ♪ ♪ Saw myself a-goin' ♪ ♪ Down on to war in June ♪ ♪ What I want, all I want ♪ ♪ Is write myself a tune ♪ -♪ Wrote a song ♪ -♪ Wrote a song for everyone ♪ -♪ Wrote a song ♪ -♪ Wrote a song for truth ♪ -♪ Wrote a song ♪ -♪ Wrote a song for everyone ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ ♪ I couldn't leave it up to you ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Got myself arrested ♪ ♪ Wound me up in jail ♪ ♪ Richmond's 'bout to blow up ♪ ♪ Communication failed ♪ ♪ If you see the answer ♪ -♪ Now's the time to say ♪ ♪ What I want, all I want ♪ -♪ Is get you down to pray, I, I, I ♪ -♪ Wrote a song ♪ -♪ Yes, I did ♪ -♪ Wrote a song ♪ ♪ Wrote a song ♪ -♪ For everyone ♪ -♪ Ooh ♪ -♪ Yeah ♪ ♪ I couldn't leave it up to you ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Whoa, I ♪ -♪ Wrote a song ♪ -♪ Wrote a song for everyone ♪ -♪ Wrote a song ♪ -♪ Wrote a song for truth ♪ -♪ Wrote a song ♪ -♪ Wrote a song for everyone ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ ♪ I couldn't leave it up to you ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Saw the people a-standin' ♪ ♪ Thousand years in chains ♪ ♪ Somebody said it's different now ♪ ♪ But, look, it's just the same ♪ ♪ Pharaohs spins the message ♪ -♪ 'Round and round the truth ♪ -♪ They could have saved a million people ♪ -♪ How can I tell you?

♪ -♪ Whoa, I ♪ -♪ Wrote a song ♪ ♪ Yes, I did ♪ -♪ Wrote a song ♪ ♪ Wrote a song ♪ -♪ Wrote a song for everyone ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ ♪ And I couldn't leave it up ♪ ♪ Whoa, I, I, I ♪ -♪ Wrote a song ♪ -♪ Wrote a song for everyone ♪ -♪ Wrote a song ♪ -♪ Wrote a song for truth ♪ -♪ Wrote a song ♪ -♪ Wrote a song for every ♪ ♪ Hey ♪ ♪ And I couldn't leave it up ♪ ♪ Whoa, I, I, I ♪ -♪ Wrote a song for everyone ♪ -♪ Oh, yes ♪ -♪ Wrote a song for truth ♪ -♪ Yes, I did ♪ -♪ Wrote a song ♪ -♪ Wrote a song for everyone ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ ♪ And I couldn't leave it up to you ♪ ♪ Couldn't talk to you ♪ ♪ I couldn't talk to ♪ -♪ You ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] -Thank you!

[ "You Are Not Alone" intro plays ] ♪♪ ♪♪ This song we're gonna sing for you now... it's the title of our Grammy-winning CD.

[ Cheers and applause ] [ Laughs ] It was written and produced by Wilco's Jeff Tweedy.

[ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ -♪ You're not alone ♪ ♪ I'm with you ♪ ♪ I'm lonely, too ♪ -♪ Mmm ♪ -♪ What's that song ♪ ♪ Can't be sung ♪ ♪ By two?

♪ -♪ Mmm-mmm-mmm ♪ ♪ Mm-hmm ♪ -♪ A broken home ♪ ♪ A broken heart ♪ ♪ Isolated and afraid ♪ ♪ Open up, this is a raid ♪ ♪ I wanna get it through to you ♪ ♪ You're not alone ♪ -♪ Mmm ♪ -♪ You're not alone ♪ ♪ Every night ♪ ♪ I stand in your place ♪ -♪ Mmm ♪ -♪ Every tear ♪ ♪ On every face ♪ ♪ Tastes the same ♪ -♪ Well ♪ -♪ A broken dream ♪ ♪ A broken heart ♪ ♪ Isolated and afraid ♪ ♪ Open up, this is a raid ♪ ♪ I wanna get it through to you ♪ ♪ You're not alone ♪ ♪♪ -♪ Mmm ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ -♪ Ooh ♪ -♪ An open hand ♪ ♪ An open heart ♪ -♪ There's no need to be afraid ♪ ♪ Open up, this is a raid ♪ ♪ I wanna get it through to you ♪ ♪ You're not alone ♪ -♪ Oh, no ♪ -♪ I wanna get it through to you ♪ ♪ You're not alone ♪ -♪ Mm-hmm ♪ -♪ I'm gonna get it through to you ♪ ♪ You're not al-o-o-one ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] Thank you!

Thank you very much.

[ "Freedom Highway" plays ] ♪♪ Hey!

♪♪ Whoo!

♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ -♪ March for freedom's highway ♪ ♪ March each and every day ♪ -♪ March for freedom's highway ♪ ♪ March each and every day ♪ ♪ Made up my mind ♪ ♪ And I won't turn around ♪ ♪ Made up my mind ♪ ♪ I won't turn around ♪ -♪ Listen ♪ ♪ There is just one thing ♪ -♪ March ♪ ♪ I can't understand, my friend ♪ -♪ Marchin' ♪ -♪ Why some folk think freedom ♪ -♪ March ♪ -♪ Was not designed for all men ♪ -♪ Marchin' ♪ -♪ There are so many people ♪ -♪ March ♪ -♪ Living their life perplexed ♪ -♪ Marchin' ♪ -♪ Wondering in their minds ♪ -♪ March ♪ -♪ What's gonna happen next ♪ -♪ That's why we gotta ♪ -♪ March for freedom's highway ♪ ♪ March each and every day ♪ -♪ Yeah ♪ -♪ March for freedom's highway ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ -♪ March each and every day ♪ ♪ Made up my mind ♪ ♪ And I won't turn around ♪ ♪ Made up my mind ♪ ♪ I won't turn around ♪ -♪ Listen ♪ ♪ Found dead people in the forest ♪ -♪ March ♪ -♪ Tallahatchie River and lake ♪ -♪ Marchin' ♪ -♪ Whole world is wonderin' ♪ -♪ March ♪ -♪ What's wrong with the United States ♪ -♪ Marchin' ♪ -♪ Yes, we want peace ♪ -♪ March ♪ -♪ If it can be found ♪ -♪ March ♪ -♪ Stay on freedom highway ♪ -♪ March ♪ -♪ And don't let nobody turn you around ♪ -♪ Marchin' ♪ -♪ I think I voted for the right man ♪ -♪ March ♪ -♪ Who said we'd overcome ♪ -♪ Marchin' ♪ -♪ Still on freedom's highway ♪ -♪ March ♪ -♪ Until the day is done ♪ -♪ Till then we're gonna ♪ -♪ March for freedom's highway ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ -♪ March each and every day ♪ -♪ Yeah, whoo!

♪ -♪ March for freedom's highway ♪ -♪ Yeah ♪ -♪ March each and every day ♪ ♪ Made up my mind ♪ ♪ And I won't turn around ♪ ♪ Made up my mind ♪ ♪ I won't turn around ♪ ♪ Made up my mind ♪ ♪ Made up my mind, ah-ha ♪ ♪ Made up my mind ♪ ♪ Made up my mind, ah-ah ♪ ♪ Made up my mind ♪ ♪ Made up my mind, ah-ah ♪ ♪ Made up my mind ♪ ♪ Made up my mind ♪ ♪ Made up my mind ♪ ♪ And I won't turn around ♪ ♪ Made up my mind ♪ ♪ And I won't turn ar-o-o-o-ound ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah, hey, hey ♪ ♪ I won't turn around ♪ -Yeah!

-♪ I won't turn around ♪ -Yeah!

-♪ I won't turn around ♪ -Yeah!

-♪ I won't turn around ♪ -♪ Turn around ♪ ♪ I won't turn around ♪ -No!

-♪ I ♪ ♪ I won't, I won't, I won't ♪ -No.

No.

No.

-♪ I won't, I, I won't ♪ ♪ I won't, I ♪ ♪ Yeah!

♪ ♪♪ ♪ I won't turn around ♪ ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] ♪ I won't turn around ♪ ♪ I won't turn around ♪ ♪ My mind is made up ♪ -Yeah!

-Whoo!

-♪ And my heart is fixed ♪ ♪ And I just refuse to turn around ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] I've come too far, y'all.

I've come too far!

[ Cheers and applause ] And I'm determined...

I'm determined to all the way!

I'm still on that highway.

I'm still on that highway!

♪♪ And I will be there.

I will be there!

Until Dr. King's dream has been realized!

Freedom Highway!

[ Cheers and applause ] Freedom Highway.

Yes.

[ Cheers and applause ] Oh, my goodness.

Oh, y'all make us feel so good.

So I'm gonna ask my baby sister to come up here and help me sing this song.

[ Cheers and applause ] This -- This song is very special.

It's for both of our fathers.

It's called "Losing You."

♪♪ ♪ Was a fool with my money ♪ ♪ And I lost every dime ♪ ♪ And the sun stopped shining ♪ ♪ And it rained all the time ♪ ♪ It did set me back some ♪ ♪ Oh, but I, I made it through ♪ ♪ But I'll never get over losing you ♪ ♪♪ -♪ Do you know how much ♪ ♪ You mean to me?

♪ ♪ Should've told you ♪ ♪ 'Cause it's true ♪ -♪ I'll get over ♪ ♪ Losing anything ♪ -♪ But I'll never get over losing you ♪ ♪♪ -♪ When we're young and there's time ♪ ♪ You forget the past ♪ -♪ You don't think that you will ♪ ♪ But you do ♪ -♪ Oh, but you do ♪ ♪ But I know that I don't have ♪ [ Chuckles ] ♪ Time enough ♪ ♪ And I'll never get over losing you ♪ ♪♪ -♪ I've been cold ♪ ♪ I've been hungry ♪ ♪ But not for a while ♪ -♪ I guess most of our dreams have come true ♪ -♪ With it all here around me ♪ ♪ No peace do I find ♪ -♪ 'Cause I'll never get over losing you ♪ -♪ No, I'll never ♪ ♪ Get over losing ♪ -♪ Y-o-o-o-ou ♪ -♪ Ooh-ooh ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] -You know what, Mavis?

You've just taken me back, when I fell in love with The Staple Singers when I was a teenager.

And I treasure our friendship and our connection.

-Yes, indeed.

-And it's been so wonderful being a baby sister to you!

-I tell ya.

Well, you're my baby sister!

[ Cheers and applause ] [ Laughs ] All right!

[ "Will the Circle Be Unbroken" plays ] ♪♪ All right.

♪ I was standin' ♪ ♪ By my window ♪ ♪ On a cold and cloudy day ♪ ♪ When I saw the ♪ ♪ Hearse come rollin' ♪ ♪ O'er to carry my mother away ♪ -♪ Will the circle be unbroken ♪ ♪ By and by, Lord, by and by ♪ ♪ There's a better home a-waitin' ♪ ♪ In the sky, Lord, in the sky ♪ -Yes!

-♪ Well, I told the undertaker ♪ -Oh, yeah!

-♪ "Undertaker, won't you please drive slow?

♪ ♪ You know that lady ♪ ♪ Oh, lady ♪ -♪ That you're haulin' ♪ ♪ Lord, I hate to see here go" ♪ -♪ Will the circle be unbroken ♪ ♪ By and by, Lord, by and by ♪ ♪ There's a better home a-waitin' ♪ ♪ In the sky, Lord, in the sky ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ -♪ I will follow close behind her ♪ ♪ Try to hold up and be brave ♪ -♪ But I could not ♪ -♪ No, I could not ♪ -♪ Drown my sorrows ♪ -♪ Drown my sorrows ♪ -♪ When they laid her in her grave ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ -♪ Will the circle ♪ -♪ Will the circle ♪ -♪ Be unbroken ♪ -♪ Be unbroken ♪ -♪ By and by, Lord, by and by ♪ ♪ There's a better home a-waitin' ♪ ♪ In the sky, Lord, in the sky ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah ♪ -♪ Will the circle be unbroken ♪ ♪ By and by, Lord, by and by ♪ -♪ Oh, yeah ♪ -♪ There's a better home a-waitin' ♪ ♪ In the sky, Lord ♪ ♪ In the ♪ ♪ Sk-y-y-y-y ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] -Whoo!

-Mavis Staples!

-Bonnie Raitt!

Thank you, thank you!

-Thank you!

♪♪ ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ -And her wonderful band!

-We happened to be in Montgomery, Alabama, on a Sunday morning, and Pops called us to his room.

He said, "Listen, you all.

This man Martin is here, Martin Luther King, and he has a church here."

We didn't have to sing until that night at 8:00, so he says, "I want to go to his 11:00 service.

Would you all like to go?"

We said, "Yeah, Pops, we want to go."

So we all go down to Dexter Avenue Baptist Church.

We get back to the hotel, and he called us to his room again.

He said, "Listen, you all.

I like this man's message.

I really like his message.

And I think that if he can preach it, we can sing it."

And we began writing freedom songs from that moment on.

We -- We -- "Freedom Highway" was the very first one.

And we joined the movement.

Dr. King was just getting the movement started there.

We would march and -- and -- Oh, we -- we saw some times.

We saw some times.

-♪ Knew I could not make it real ♪ -Yeah.

-♪ Try to force it, make it work ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Immediate crash and burn ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ Gotta leave tonight ♪ ♪ I can't give tomorrow ♪ ♪ Short-term happiness can be long-term sorrow ♪ ♪ Hope you can forgive ♪ ♪ Hope you find a real love ♪ ♪ Whenever I lose track ♪ ♪ It always brings me back ♪ ♪ I choose joy ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Joy ♪ ♪♪ ♪ I choose joy ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Joy ♪ ♪♪