Candi Staton

Candi Staton, born Canzetta Maria Staton in 1940, is an American singer and songwriter from Hanceville, Alabama, whose career has spanned gospel, soul, and disco. She began her musical journey as a child, singing in church and later performing with the Jewell Gospel Trio in the 1950s. In the late 1960s, she transitioned to secular music, becoming a prominent soul and disco artist known as the "First Lady of Southern Soul." Staton returned to her gospel roots in 1982 and founded Beracah Ministries in Atlanta. She also established a television series titled "New Direction" on the Trinity Broadcasting Network. Her gospel catalog includes songs such as "Hallelujah Anyway," "Glorify Your Name," and "He Cares For You," while her secular hits include "I'm Just a Prisoner," "Young Hearts Run Free," and "You Got the Love." A five-time Grammy Award nominee across both R&B and Gospel categories, Staton has been inducted into both the Christian Music Hall of Fame and the Alabama Music Hall of Fame.