Mahalia Barnes has been in and around music her entire life. She grew up listening to everything from Ray Charles, Otis Redding and Ike & Tina Turner to Aretha Franklin, Donny Hathaway and Stevie Wonder, shaping her into the powerhouse soul and blues vocalist that has jaws dropping every time she picks up a microphone.

The famous musical Jesus Christ Superstar, with lyrics and music by Grammy, Tony, Oscar and Emmy Award-winning team Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber, is set to return to Australia. The show will be performed at Sydney’s Capitol Theatre from 6 November until 29 December and will also be performed in seasons at Perth’s Crown Theatre (from February 2025) and Melbourne’s Princess Theatre (from March 2025). The lead cast remains as impressive as ever for the new Australian edition of Jesus Christ Superstar. [...] In addition to Paynter, the new Aussie edition of Jesus Christ Superstar features powerhouse vocalist Mahalia Barnes, taking on her first stage role as Mary Magdalene.

Mahalia Barnes, a seasoned artist with music in her veins, is set to honor Aretha Franklin in an empowering tribute at the Joondalup Festival. As the daughter of Australian rock legend Jimmy Barnes, Mahalia has carved her own path in the music industry, embracing both her heritage and her individuality. Next week, she joins a lineup of talented Aussie vocalists in Perth to celebrate the Queen of Soul's legacy. [...] This tribute to Aretha Franklin represents not just an homage but an affirmation of Barnes's own journey and the influence of powerful female voices in music.