Grammy winner and gospel great Mavis Staples talked about many things on the red carpet for “One Night Only: A Celebration of The Live Music Experience”: the passing of Etta James, her favorite performers, the importance of live performance and her Music City connections.

Before taking stage for the Grammy Foundation’s fund-raising concert at the Saban Theatre, Staples spoke of her family’s bond with country star Marty Stuart and called him her late father Roebuck “Pops” Staples Stuart’s “godson.” Both have Mississippi roots. “Marty is my baby brother, and we keep in touch all the time,” Staples said.

The two have recorded together; most notably, Staples is featured with Stuart in a duet of her father’s “Move Along Train” on Marty Stuart and the Fabulous Superlatives’ 2005 album Souls’ Chapel, which was inspired by Pops Staples.

Among other names Mavis Staples mentioned on Thursday night on the red carpet, with a smile: Miranda Lambert and Willie Nelson. And Dolly Parton: “We go back a long way.”

By Linda Zettler