Dorothy “Dottie” Peoples

August 12, 1950

She is an American gospel singer from Dayton, Ohio. After completing high school, she toured with gospel pioneer Dorothy Norwood, a member of the Caravans. After a stint in jazz, she relocated to Atlanta in 1979 and returned to her gospel roots. She has been dubbed “Songbird of the South.”

Career

Peoples performed with Widespread Panic at the inaugural Bonnaroo Music Festival and with Dorothy Norwood. She sang “The Star-Spangled Banner” at the 1996 Olympics, “He’s an On Time God” at the memorial service for John Lewis, and at the 2020 Stellar Awards.

Peoples has an honorary Doctor of Sacred Music from the Global Evangelical Christian College, part of the International Circle of Faith Colleges and Seminaries network. She has toured regularly with her friend Garnelle Hubbard-Spearman.