Samara Joy at EKU Center for the Arts

Samara Joy McLendon is an American jazz singer. She released her self-titled debut album in 2021 and was subsequently named Best New Artist by JazzTimes. Her second album, Linger Awhile (2022), reached number one on the Billboard Jazz Albums chart. She has received six Grammy Awards, including Best New Artist in 2023, and three wins each for Best Jazz Vocal Album and Best Jazz Performance.