‘Sad and Beautiful’, released in November 2025 and produced by Brad Cook, is a ten-track album that shows Mavis Staples still working at a deeply thoughtful, human scale after more than six decades in music.
Staples, who first rose to prominence with ‘The Staple Singers’ and became a defining voice of gospel, soul, and the US civil rights movement, brings clarity and emotional weight to songs that reflect on society and faith.
The album opens with Chicago, grounding the record in place and memory, before moving through to Beautiful Strangers and the reflective centrepiece Sad and Beautiful World.
;Sad and Beautiful’ is an ideal album for listeners who value soul music from one of its most celebrated artists.
