The soulful musician known as KIRBY was born in Memphis, Tennessee, but she grew up in the tight-knit community of Eudora, Mississippi, surrounded by cousins, church choirs, and plenty of talented relatives who knew how to cook. Her grandmother, Cora, could lead a song as easily as she could deliver a baby—something she did often as one of the first midwives in DeSoto County. Now, more than a decade into her career, KIRBY is set to honor her legacy with her second studio album, Miss Black America—short for Mississippi Black America. It’s a deeply personal record that blends modern soul with family history, weaving the voices of her loved ones and the stories of her home state. Sid talks to KIRBY about the memories that have shaped her as an artist, the Stax Music Academy years that helped launch her career, and the musical legacy of the nearby plantation that shares her family’s last name. They also discuss the story behind her hit song “Loved By You” that took on a life of its own.

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