Joni Mitchell.Photo: Shannon Finney/Getty Images
Joni Mitchellis being recognized for her profound impact on music.
“My God, it’s overwhelming,” Mitchell, 79, said as she appeared onstage to accept the award. “It’s just a beautiful event for me. So many people that I care about are here tonight from different parts of my life. New friends, old friends. It’s just kind of thrilling. Thank you all for coming.”
Theaward “celebrates the work of an artistwhose career reflects the influence, impact and achievement in promoting song as a vehicle of musical expression and cultural understanding,” according to the Library. Previous Gershwin Prize winners includeLionel Richie,Billy Joel,Carole KingandPaul McCartney.
The night was a star-studded honoring of Mitchell’s music, with Mitchell herself choosing a handful of friends and collaborators to sing some of their favorite songs of hers. Marcus Mumford kicked things off with “Carey,” and other performances included Annie Lennox singing “Both Sides Now,” Angélique Kidjo singing “Help Me,” Brandi Carlile singing “Shine,” James Taylor performing “California” and Cyndi Lauper doing “Blue.”
Graham Nash—who dated Mitchell in the late ’60s and early ’70s—sang “A Case of You” as photos and videos of their romance played behind him, while Diana Krall performed “For the Roses,” and Herbie Hancock and Ledisi sang “River.” The ladies of the night also teamed up for a rousing rendition of “Big Yellow Taxi,” during which a seated Mitchell grooved from her chair, and sang the song’s final line.
Though Mitchell has only recently begun to ease back into the spotlight following a devastating brain aneurysm in 2015, she delighted the audience with a pair of performances, her first since shesurprised the crowd at Newport Folk Festivalin July with a 13-song set.
For her first song, she sang the classic “Summertime” as a nod to George and Ira Gershwin, the namesake of her prize.
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Joni Mitchell.Shannon Finney/Getty Images
Afterward, all the collaborators who’d previously taken the stage earlier in the night joined Mitchell for a sing-along version of her 1966 classic “The Circle Game.”
“Her resilience is palpable,” Carlile told reporters on the red carpet. “She’s been so resilient, and it’s one of the first things Joni ever said to me when I met her. The first time I saw her, she couldn’t stand up. And the second time I saw her, she walked into a restaurant… She said, ‘This is the third time I’ve learned to walk. Once out of infancy, once out of polo, and once again now.’ And I remember just thinking, ‘God, you’re a beast!’ You know what I mean? Just a total pillar.”
Nash, meanwhile, said on the carpet that he was thrilled to be there to support Mitchell.
“I’m very honored to be able to help make Joni know that people really love her, and that she is a great songwriter, and that people are recognizing that,” he said.
Joni Mitchell (center).STEFANI REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images
Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden — who awarded Mitchell her prize alongside a number of U.S. senators — called Mitchell a “musical genius” in a statement ahead of the award ceremony.
“Joni Mitchell’s music and artistry haveleft a distinct impression on American cultureand internationally, crossing from folk music with a distinctive voice whose songs will stay with us for the ages,” Hayden said.
She added in the statement, “Joni Mitchell’s music has so many artists and music lovers all singing her tunes. We are honored to present the Gershwin Prize to this musical genius.”
Mitchell was named theMusiCares 2022 Person of the Yearlast April, withElton John,Billy Porterand Richie sharing their love and admiration for the"River"singer.
“You’ve influenced me so much with your chord changes and ability to surprise and delve further into songwriting,” John said in a vignette. “Not many people dared to do that, but you did.”
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In November 2022, theGrammy Awardwinner announced thatshe’ll be releasing a new live albumbased on her surprise Newport Folk Festival performance — which was her first full set live for an audience in more than 20 years.
“I’ve never beennervous about being in front of an audience,” she told CBS News of the set. “But I want it to be good. And I wasn’t sure I could be. But I didn’t sound too bad tonight!”
“No one’s been able to buy a ticket to see Joni Mitchell play in 20 years, so this is enormous,” Carlile, 41, said during an October 2022 appearance onThe Daily ShowwithTrevor Noah. “And she’s so excited, because it’s close to Canada and some of her Canadian fans.”
“I can’t believe it’s happening,but it’s happening, and she is going to crush it,” Carlile added. “So if you can get there, get there.”
source: people.com
