Joni Mitchell was honored in Washington D.C., introduced with the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Common Track, and celebrated by her friends and well-known followers, together with Cyndi Lauper, James Taylor, Marcus Mumford and Brandi Carlile.
Strolling the pink carpet with a cane, the Canadian singer-songwriter mentioned that the glory was “very thrilling.”
After a night of performances in her honor, Mitchell, 79, took the stage and paid homage to the Gershwin Prize’s namesake, George Gershwin, performing “Summertime” from “Porgy and Bess.”
Performers Graham Nash, Ledisi, Herbie Hancock, in addition to Lauper, Taylor, Mumford and Carlile later joined Mitchell on stage to carry out her hit music “Circle Sport,” bringing the gang to their ft.
SINGER-SONGWRITER JONI MITCHELL TO RECEIVE GERSWHIN PRIZE FOR POPULAR SONG
Joni Mitchell was joined onstage by fellow musicians Cyndi Lauper, Brandi Carlile and James Taylor amongst others to have a good time her Gershwin Prize honor. (STEFANI REYNOLDS/AFP)
Carlile sang her personal cowl of Mitchell’s “Shine,” in addition to performing again up vocals. Whereas admittedly a fan of Mitchell’s, Carlile revealed she had solely found the legend later in her life.
“It felt actually female to me, actually weak, and it made me actually uncomfortable, which is a mirrored image, I feel, alone ego and my coming of age in being a little bit of a gender non-conforming particular person or simply probably not understanding the way in which that she was displaying me, and all of us, the world. And it wasn’t till I fell in love and met my spouse that I noticed how multi-dimensional Joni was as an artist,” Carlile mentioned of Mitchell’s music.
Brandi Carlile hugged Joni Mitchell on stage. (STEFANI REYNOLDS/AFP)
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Nash, who beforehand dated Mitchell within the Seventies, carried out “A Case of You,” later within the night, a music Mitchell wrote about their breakup.
“She has had many, many difficulties in her life with polio when she was younger. And now there’s a mind aneurysm a number of years in the past. However to see her come again and be singing once more and taking part in once more is unimaginable. I imply, discuss resilience,” Nash mentioned of his former lover.
James Taylor carried out on stage in honor of Joni Mitchell. (Shannon Finney)
One other former companion, Taylor, referred to as Mitchell “a nationwide treasure,” describing his time with the performer as “one of many chapters in my life that I am fondest of.”
“She had an enormous impact on me, on my work. And we collaborated in the course of the yr or in order that we had been collectively on loads of stuff,” Taylor defined.
Joni Mitchell carried out “Summertime” at Structure Corridor for the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Common Track ceremony. (STEFANI REYNOLDS/AFP)
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The Gershwin Prize, created in 2007, has beforehand honored a number of prestigious performers. Final yr’s recipient was Lionel Richie.
Different winners embody Willie Nelson, Paul McCartney, Carole King and Billy Joel.
The Related Press contributed to this report.
