Music legend Candi Staton continues to receive her flowers.
The 85-year-old has received her first GRAMMY nomination in the album category for Back To My Roots. The project, her 32nd album, is nominated for Best Roots Gospel Album at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards, to be held Sunday, February 1, 2026, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, CA, broadcasting live on CBS Television Network and streaming on Paramount+.
As the press descibes, Back To My Roots is an “Americana-styled album which features Staton’s re-interpretations of songs popularized by the Rolling Stones, Elvis Presley, And Al Green alongside original compositions.” The blues themed album features covers of The Rolling Stones’ 1972 classic “Shine A Light,” and retro-soul favorite “My God Has a Telephone,” performed as a duet with William Bell.
“I’m so surprised,” Staton says. “I know it’s a cliché, but it’s always nice just to be nominated. I was nominated before and a couple of times I was always up against Aretha Franklin-who I love-but she dominated that era. I’m proud of this album, and at this stage of my life, I hope I can finally bring one home before I leave this earth.”
Back to My Roots’ was produced by Staton with her second eldest son, Marcus Williams, a professional drummer who has toured with the likes of Peabo Bryson, Isaac Hayes, and Tyler Perry. They brought in Mark Nevers of Lambchop fame, who produced three of Staton’s prior Americana albums for Honest Jon’s and Thirty Tigers, to sweeten certain tracks.
“Some of the first songs I ever heard were songs like `Peace in the Valley’ and `It’s Gonna Rain,’” says Staton. “The new songs or cover songs are tracks that remind me of that era when I was growing up as a child and evolving as a young woman. That’s why I named the album Back to My Roots because I’m going back to the roots that made me who I am.”