John Prine, country folk legend and songwriter, dies at 73 due to coronavirus
Country-folk singer John Prine, who was part of the folk revival and considered one of the most influential country songwriters of all time, has died from complications relating to the coronavirus. He was 73.
On March 29, the singer's family reported he had been dealing with symptoms of COVID-19, the same day fellow country singer Joe Diffie was reported to have passed away from the illness.
Born and raised in Maywood, Illinois, Prine was a big part of reviving folk music, putting out hits like 'You Never Even Called Me By My Name', 'Illegal Smile', 'Sam Stone', and the Americana classic, 'Angel From Montgomery'. Prine's ability to weave literary genius with familiar sounds was lauded by many and his uniquely humorous style of songwriting often included messages of protest and social commentary. His work was loved by everyone from Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash to Roger Waters (the co-founder of Pink Floyd) and was often praised for its eloquence and ability to present current events in a way that allowed anyone to connect with it on an emotional level.
Prine won his first Grammy for his self-titled debut album in the 'Best New Artist' category and would go on to win many more in the 'Contemporary Folk' and 'Americana' categories. He was also the first singer-songwriter to read and perform at the Library of Congress in 2005 after he was requested to do so by U.S. Poet Laureate Ted Kooser.
The singer-songwriter was reported to have been placed on a ventilator late in March while he was hospitalized and being treated for COVID-19 symptoms. In their initial statement at the time, the Prine family stated that "After a sudden onset of COVID-19 symptoms, John was hospitalized on Thursday (3/26)," adding "He was intubated Saturday evening and continues to receive care, but his situation is critical," and later on March, 30 revealed he was in stable condition but would remain in the hospital while his wife, Fiona Prine, who had also been dealing with COVID-19 symptoms had fully recovered.
Prine had already dealt with multiple life-threatening illnesses, including battling cancer twice, which resulted in his signature voice gaining a more gravelly tone. He continued to record music and perform and was scheduled to perform multiple shows in May and had a summer tour planned before the ongoing pandemic caused him to take a step back from the stage.
On April 3, Prine's family stated that it was his eighth day in the ICU, but they were unable to be by his side on account of being quarantined. "I cannot be with him which makes this nightmare all the more distressing for me," stated his wife. She continued, "John was put on a ventilator last Saturday. He still needs quite a bit of help with his breathing...John has pneumonia in both lungs. He has also developed some peripheral issues that are being treated with meds, including antibiotics." The statement adds, "He is very ill and yet I remain hopeful that he can continue to fight this devastating virus and come home where we can care for him."
Unfortunately on Tuesday, April 7, the singer passed away from coronavirus complications, which was confirmed by a publicist on behalf of his family.
Prine is survived by his wife, Fiona Whelan Prine, and two sons.
