Ruthie Foster

Ruthie Foster, whose latest album, Mileage, won the Best Contemporary Blues Album at the 2025 Grammy Awards, brings her vibrant and soulful voice to The Spire Center on August 21. Growing up in the rich musical tapestry of Gause, Texas, Ruthie found herself drawn to the diverse sounds and arrangements of local gospel choirs and musicians. She stood out as a young black girl with a guitar in a choir scene dominated by pianos, but with her grandmother’s vocal coaching and encouragement from her mother and the church community, she recognized her own power — as a songwriter, a musician, and as a captivating singer. She has released a total of 13 albums to date, beginning with her self-released Full Circle in 1997, earned her first Grammy nomination with The Phenomenal Ruthie Foster ten years later, picked up 3 more nominations along the way, before last year’s win with Mileage, which was also the first ever for released on the legendary Sun Records.