Mavis Staples and Jeff Tweedy perform the classic “Freedom Highway” on “Colbert”

In 1965, the Staple Singers, already giants in the gospel world, released Freedom Highwayan album explicitly inspired by the civil rights struggle. Pops Staples wrote the album's title song, and his daughter and bandmate Mavis was in her mid-twenties when it came out. Mavis Staples is now 85; she had an all-star birthday party in April. Last night, she reunited with her frequent collaborator Jeff Tweedy to perform this song on Colbert.

All week long Stephen Colbert's Late Show taped its episodes in Chicago, in conjunction with the Democratic National Convention. That must have given Colbert another excuse to bring Mavis Staples and Jeff Tweedy on his show. Considering Wilco, Tweedy's solo stuff and his work as a sideman, I'd bet Jeff Tweedy has been in more Colbert episodes than any other guest. I am not a Colbertologist, but I know that it goes back to The Colbert Reportand I also know that Mavis Staples can't be far behind. Colbert spent most of last night's episode talking to Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez, but he made time for Staples and Tweedy to sing a rousing version of “Freedom Highway.” Watch it below.