“’You’ve Got What It Takes’ was a must for the For Dinah project,” says Ledisi. “It was originally recorded by Brook Benton and Dinah and I am so happy that Gregory agreed to do this duet with me. We’ve performed together in the past, so I knew the two of us would fit perfectly on this song. The original was a pop/r&b hit in the 60’s, so I wanted to keep that loose, playful energy and mirror some of what Dinah displayed on the original.“

For Dinah is Ledisi’s deeply personal tribute to her lifelong hero. Produced by jazz heavyweight Christian McBride and Ledisi’s longtime producer Rex Rideout, For Dinah blends Ledisi’s signature soul with Washington’s bold spirit, reclaiming space for a pioneer who made it possible for women like her to thrive. The album features standout collaborations, including the duet with Porter, and appearances by top-tier musicians like Paul Jackson Jr. and rising star Michael King.

“You’ve Got What It Takes” follows lead single “This Bitter Earth,” a soul-stirring interpretation of the haunting ballad made famous by Washington and written by Clyde Otis, and the beloved standard popularized by Washington in 1959, “What a Difference a Day Made,” which was released with a live performance video.

Like every triumphantly gifted female singer who has transcended barriers, Ledisi is a child of Dinah Washington. “She gave me permission to move freely, create freely, be a woman in leadership, wear and say what I want,” explains Ledisi. “Before there was Aretha, there was Dinah. She deserves to be recognized in today’s music as well. So instead of asking me ‘Why Dinah?,’ you should be asking ‘Why not Dinah?’”

Born in New Orleans and shaped by the Bay Area, Ledisi has emerged as a leading voice in contemporary R&B. She’s earned a Grammy win, 14 nominations, and widespread acclaim for portraying her musical heroes on stage, record, and screen — including Mahalia Jackson in Selma and Remember Me. Her most recent Grammy nod was for Ledisi Sings Nina, a tribute praised by The New York Times for capturing both Nina Simone’s depth and Ledisi’s own stunning vocal range. As the critic Salamishah Tillet pointed out in their glowing profile, Ledisi Sings Nina lifts up “the diversity and depth of Simone’s musicianship and the breathtaking range and reach of Ledisi’s own voice.”

Ledisi describes her connection to Dinah Washington’s music as deeply personal, offering a space to fully embrace and express her femininity. “There’s a sensuality in this music,” she says, “in my fur, my curves, the tightness of my dress — and in how I move with the music.” Ultimately, For Dinah is Ledisi’s tribute to representation and resilience. She sees herself in Washington’s struggle for acceptance in a male-dominated industry, as a dark-skinned woman navigating similar challenges. “I felt her pain, her rejection,” Ledisi says. “This is where I come from — and this is my way of saying her name out loud.”