Jim James, Joan Baez, Jeff Tweedy & Bonnie “Prince” Billy Cover John Prine
News that John Prine was in critical condition following the onset of Covid-19 symptoms shook fans on Sunday. Many took to social media, sending healing vibes, while a few musicians delivered their prayers by sharing cover versions of his songs. Below you’ll find Joan Baez, Jim James, and Jeff Tweedy’s tributes. We’ve also included a cover Bonnie “Prince” Billy posted a few days ago on his Instagram.
If there’s one thing that’s certain about Prine, it’s that he’s a fighter. The 73-year-old folk/country singer-songwriter battled back from cancer twice. In the late 1990s, he was treated for squamous cell cancer of the neck. Then, in 2013, he had surgery to remove cancerous cells in his left lung.
Similar to other musicians, the coronavirus pandemic disrupted Prine’s touring plans. The virus forced him to cancel shows in Australia in April.
As for the musical tributes, Joan Baez performs “Hello in There,” which she dedicates to both John and his wife Fiona. In her video message, Baez explains that “Hello in There” is historically one of her most requested songs.
Jim James shared a cover of Prine’s “All My Best” on his Instagram. James’ band, My Morning Jacket, covered the song for the 2010 Prine tribute album, Broken Hearts & Dirty Windows: Songs of John Prine.
During The Tweedy Show, Jeff Tweedy, with help from his family, performed three covers, “Summer’s End,” “Angel from Montgomery,” and “Illegal Smile.” The quality of the videos isn’t great, but you get the idea.
Finally, there is the cover Bonnie “Prince” Billy (aka Will Oldham) posted to his Instagram. He delivers a beautiful rendition of “Mexican Home.” It’s unclear if Bonnie knew that John or his wife were ill when he posted the song.
Prine, hang in there!
An update on John pic.twitter.com/fPQbv0tLyB
— John Prine (@JohnPrineMusic) March 29, 2020
Image courtesy of the artist