Is Opal Staples Related To Mavis Staples

So, you’re at a backyard barbecue, right? The grill is sizzling, someone’s kid is chasing a dog, and your uncle—the one who claims to know everything about music—turns to you and asks, “Hey, is Opal Staples related to Mavis Staples?” You freeze, clutching your potato salad like it’s a shield. It’s a fair question, but it feels like being asked to name all the backup dancers from Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” video. Let’s untangle this family tree before your uncle starts humming “I’ll Take You There” for the tenth time.

The short answer? No, they aren’t blood relatives.

I know, I know—this feels like finding out your favorite peanut butter and jelly sandwich is actually just two slices of bread with a photo of jam. But here’s the truth: Opal Staples and Mavis Staples come from different branches of the musical forest. Mavis is the legendary soul-gospel queen from the Staple Singers, a family group that included her dad Roebuck “Pops” Staples and her siblings. Opal, on the other hand, is a talented gospel singer in her own right, but she’s not part of that dynasty. It’s like confusing a Golden Retriever with a Labrador—they’re both great dogs, but different breeds.

You’ve probably overheard someone at a coffee shop say, “Oh, they’re all Staples, so they must be related.” That’s the same logic that insists all Smiths are cousins. I once thought every person named Johnson was secretly a Johnson & Johnson heir. Nope. Just a lot of Johnsons with good dental hygiene.

But wait—did they ever sing together? That’s the real barbecue question.

Not really, unless you count the spiritual connection of sharing a genre. Mavis’s voice could shake a church roof off its hinges. Opal’s voice is like a warm blanket you didn’t know you needed. If they ever did a duet, it would be like a thunderstorm and a gentle rain having a picnic. It could work, but history hasn’t given us that gift. So, no, they never toured together, never did a Christmas album, and definitely never argued over whose turn it was to pick up the paper towels for the tour bus.

I once made a similar mistake with Aretha Franklin and Erma Franklin. Aretha is the Queen of Soul; Erma sang “Piece of My Heart.” They are actual sisters, but for years I thought Opal was a lost cousin of them both. Nope. That’s like thinking the M&M’s red and green are secretly the same flavor. They are not. They are different. Embrace the difference.

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Why do people get confused? Because the Staples name is iconic.

It’s like hearing the last name Beyoncé and assuming everyone with that name is related to Queen Bey. (Spoiler: Her last name is actually Knowles-Carter, so good luck with that.) The Staples surname is so powerful in gospel and soul that any singer named Staples automatically gets lumped into one big family tree. I once asked my dad if Jordan Staples (a random jazz artist) was Mavis’s nephew. My dad sighed like I’d asked him to explain the plot of Inception backwards.

Here’s the funny part: People do this with everything. At a party, someone will ask, “Is that a Ford Mustang or a Chevy Camaro?” And the car owner will say, “They’re both American muscle cars, but they’re different companies!” Same with Opal and Mavis. Both are gospel-soul powerhouses, but different companies, if you will. One is from Chicago, the other from—well, Opal’s path is her own, and that’s beautiful.

Pervis Staples, member of famed Staple Singers, dead at 85 Otis Redding

So, how do you handle this at the next family gathering?

You can nod wisely and say, “Actually, they’re not related, but they’re both legends in their own right.” Then, take a sip of your drink and subtly change the subject to something safer, like whether KFC should bring back the potato wedges. But seriously, if you want to be a hero, play Mavis’s song “Respect Yourself” and then Opal’s “I’m Going to Make It.” Watch the room smile. That’s the real connection—the music, not the last name.

And if your uncle pushes back? Just shrug and say, “You know, it’s like asking if Tom Hanks is related to Hank Williams. They both have ‘ank’ in their names, but one is an actor, and the other is a country singer. Pass the potato salad.”

In the end, the story of Opal and Mavis is a reminder that talent doesn’t need a family tree. Sometimes, two amazing people just happen to share a cool name. Like seeing two dudes named Dave at the same coffee shop. They’re both named Dave, but one drinks black coffee and the other insists on oat milk. They’re both valid. They’re both great. And neither one owes the other a Christmas card.