John Prine
Americana singer-songwriter John Prine has passed away at the age of 73 due to complications following hospitalization for COVID-19. Prine was revered for his songwriting and lyricism, winning numerous awards, including two Grammys.
Prine consistently was releasing music for decades to acclaim, with countless artists covering his songs. He got his start in the Chicago folk scene in the early ’70s, where he was discovered by the late film critic Roger Ebert. Prine soon found famous fans in Kris Kristofferson and Paul Anka, who helped him break into the music business.
He released numerous albums throughout his career, earning rave reviews and working with a variety of different artists. He had a cancerous tumor removed in 1998 and took a year-and-a-half off from performing, before returning to music making once again. His final album was 2018’s The Tree of Forgiveness. In 2019, he was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and was given a Lifetime Achievement Award just months ago at the Grammys.
Prine’s wife and manager Fiona announced on March 17 she had tested positive for the coronavirus following Prine’s recent European tour. He had spent the last 13 days in intensive care in Nashville before his passing.
