read tributes to John Prine from Bruce Springsteen, Margo Price, Stephen Colbert, Bette Midler, and more
One of our most gifted songwriters, John Prine touched all parts of the music world and beyond. Read tributes to John — who died earlier today from coronavirus complications — from Margo Price, Jason Isbell, Taika Waititi, Bette Midler, Bon Iver, Stephen Colbert, k.d. lang, Michael Moore, Rosanne Cash, Bonnie Rait, Stephen King, Marc Maron, Hiss Golden Messenger, Kevin Morby, Ron Sexsmith, Lukas Nelson, The Grand Ole Opry, John Darnielle, Bruce Springsteen , and more.
It hurts so bad to read the news. I am gutted. My hero is gone. My friend is gone. We’ll love you forever John Prine.
— Margo Price (@MissMargoPrice) April 8, 2020
We love you John.
— Jason Isbell (@JasonIsbell) April 8, 2020
https://twitter.com/blobtower/status/1247700133531095041
https://twitter.com/blobtower/status/1247703438957273089
He’s gone. https://t.co/VDOB4omwWl
— bettemidler (@BetteMidler) April 8, 2020
With a heavy heart, but deep love and gratitude for his gift he gave us all- Goodbye, John Prine. https://t.co/kGkNJYl3hI
— Stephen Colbert (@StephenAtHome) April 8, 2020
Coronavirus has taken one of the great ones: John Prine, dead at 73. So many memorable songs.
— Stephen King (@StephenKing) April 8, 2020
Swift rebirth John Prine
🙏🏽— k.d. lang (@kdlang) April 8, 2020
Just give me one thing I can hold on to. I'm just heartbroken. #johnprine
— . (@rosannecash) April 8, 2020
We are heartbroken to hear about the passing of John Prine. His life and music will be celebrated by us as long as we are able .. we send prayers and condolences to his family at this time.. ~ Lukas and POTR pic.twitter.com/nw72SDEjHq
— Lukas Nelson & Promise Of The Real (@lukasnelson) April 8, 2020
The great John Prine has passed away from the virus. He showed me how to “let it rip” when it comes to songwriting. There’s a huge hole in the music world tonight. John did it best. RIP -T
— Toby Keith (@tobykeith) April 8, 2020
In spite of ourselves we'll end up sitting on a rainbow,
Against all odds, honey we're the big door-prize,
We're gonna spite our noses right off of our faces,
There won't be nothing but big ol' hearts dancing in our eyes.RIP John Prinehttps://t.co/8X8fWLS2oL
— Mikel Jollett (@Mikel_Jollett) April 8, 2020
The great folk singer and songwriter, John Prine, passed away today due to the coronavirus. So many great songs. Here’s one about the loneliness of growing old and a plea for us not to ignore our elderly.
“Hello in There”. Please watch…https://t.co/HvdpTuMprS— Michael Moore (@MMFlint) April 8, 2020
RIP John Prine
Steve Goodman's been keeping some cold ones backstage for you. Wish I could see that reunion concert! 🙏💔— Clancy Brown (@RealClancyBrown) April 8, 2020
RIP John Prine. The real deal. Great American singer/songwriter that found the heart and humor in even the darkest of human stories through song. Genius. Very heavy loss.
— marc maron (@marcmaron) April 8, 2020
https://twitter.com/WEarlBrown/status/1247702008640843776
A guy who dies in a car crash because his windshield is covered w/ US flag stickers, written 50 years ago, could be from today. RIP John Prine.
John Prine – "Your Flag Decal Won't Get You Into Heaven Anymore" (Live) https://t.co/pBm3voouI3 via @YouTube
— @ACNewman (@ACNewman) April 8, 2020
I wish it wasn’t so. Rest In Peace John Prine. We can’t thank you enough
— Langhorne Slim (@LanghorneSlim) April 8, 2020
And then I’m gonna drink a cocktail: vodka and ginger ale Yeah, I’m gonna smoke a cigarette that’s nine miles long I’m gonna kiss a pretty girl on the tilt-a-whirl Cause this old man is going to town”
“WHEN I GET TO HEAVEN” ~ John Prine 💔 🚬 pic.twitter.com/4LtRpowz4J— Brandy Clark (@TheBrandyClark) April 8, 2020
https://twitter.com/emmyrossum/status/1247708015609950209
john prine is as good as it gets. an honor to be alive during his time making work.
— jackantonoff (@jackantonoff) April 8, 2020
https://twitter.com/ShooterJennings/status/1247706310218354688
RIP John Prine. This sucks.
— Taika Waititi (@TaikaWaititi) April 8, 2020
well goddamit #RIPJohnPrine #victimofthegreatcompromise https://t.co/fUW3wIJtT4
— Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) April 8, 2020
Just gutting. No one wrote songs about humankind with more grace and wit. To quote him, "He was in heaven before he died." https://t.co/VPpBn4UJLV
— Seth Meyers (@sethmeyers) April 8, 2020
Such sad news
John Prine dead; acclaimed folksinger, songwriter created classics of lyricism and storytelling – Chicago Sun-Times https://t.co/JQvKRmsmbz— Andy Richter (@AndyRichter) April 8, 2020
https://twitter.com/Amber_Coffman/status/1247700561681498112
John Prine and Bill Withers in a matter of days. This is a hell of a time.
— Hiss Golden Messenger (@hissgldnmssr) April 8, 2020
Can confirm hst loved him some john prine
Bill Murray Explains How He Pulled Himself Out of a Deep, Lasting Funk: He Took Hunter S. Thompson's Advice & Listened to the Music of John Prine | Open Culture https://t.co/q8dqiPOkqE— John Cusack (@johncusack) April 8, 2020
From gracing the Opry House stage for those memorable New Year's Eve shows to other special Opry appearances including one alongside the StreelDrivers and Bill Murray, John Prine has touched our hearts with his music. We are thinking of his family and friends tonight. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/FV3nIfT1kc
— Grand Ole Opry (@opry) April 8, 2020
Devastating heartbreak. We are so lucky to have had you in our world, John. Your Folk Family is eternally grateful. Rest easy. https://t.co/L23dnqRQRY
— Newport Folk Fest (@Newportfolkfest) April 8, 2020
Absolutely 💔 news. Rest in Paradise, John Prine. We were very lucky to have him play our stage and we are blessed to keep his music close to our hearts. Listening to his records will forever be one of life's great pleasures. An Angel flew from Montgomery today. 📸: Chad Anderson pic.twitter.com/KEEDrBUbk8
— The Capitol Theatre 🐿 (@capitoltheatre) April 8, 2020
Damn. 🙏🏻
— Kevin Morby (@kevinmorby) April 8, 2020
John Prine on Austin City Limits "When I Get to Heaven" https://t.co/fHAyp5HmZi via @YouTube
— Kirsten Dunst (@kirstendunst) April 8, 2020
celeb deaths don’t usually get to me but john prine was more than that. a character from another time- a smart asses’ smart ass, and just a one of a kind song writer. i’m so glad i got to see him live- if you don’t know- just listen. i hope they cut you up &pass you all around.
— Moshe Kasher (@moshekasher) April 8, 2020
Let’s all stare at the moon and be thankful we ever walked the same earth as Bill Withers, John Prine, and Christen Thomas. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/6lWNq8IjGU
— Har Mar Superstar (@HarMarSuperstar) April 8, 2020
Our hearts are broken. RIP John Prine https://t.co/9d7EBZjJrR
— Austin City Limits (@acltv) April 8, 2020
As if we didn't have enough devastating news
The great John Prine has died & I am heartbroken.
I always saw him as a sort of Mark Twain figure
A humorist but mainly a humanist. He could make you laugh one moment and rip your heart open in the next.
He always very nice to me RS pic.twitter.com/qUqrkRYjZs— Ron Sexsmith 💙 (@RonSexsmith) April 8, 2020
Damn, we've lost a true American Treasure. https://t.co/zqepRJaobh
— Bob Boilen (@BobBoilen) April 8, 2020
Oh John Prine, thank you for making me laugh and breaking my heart and sharing your boundless humanity. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. This is one of the most gorgeous songs ever written. Bonnie Raitt& John Prine – Angel From Montgomery https://t.co/rxSnzo4QhT via @YouTube
— Bradley Whitford (@BradleyWhitford) April 8, 2020
“Make me an angel
That flies from Montgomery
Make me a poster
Of an old rodeo
Just give me one thing
That I can hold on to
To believe in this livin'
Is just a hard way to go”
🙏🇺🇸
John Prine RIP pic.twitter.com/boZdkPcE82— Men in Blazers (@MenInBlazers) April 8, 2020
Rest in paradise, John Prine.
Thank you for everything. pic.twitter.com/jeL1tJ1WBI— Roger Harvey (@xorogerharvey) April 8, 2020
John Prine had dignity, social conscience, humor & a unique sense of tradition. One of America’s earliest folk pioneers & so much more. RIP pic.twitter.com/enSXs6SXAu
— Michael Des Barres (@MDesbarres) April 8, 2020
John Prine. 💔
— Mandy Moore (@TheMandyMoore) April 8, 2020
We are deeply saddened by @JohnPrineMusic’s passing. Our hearts go out to his family and friends during this difficult time.https://t.co/Rj1Gibm0hq
— CMA Country Music (@CountryMusic) April 8, 2020
i can’t even begin to process losing bill withers and john prine in the same week 💔 RIP
— eric slick (@ericslickmusic) April 8, 2020
https://twitter.com/RealMickFoley/status/1247712850312921089
John Prine . He done gone over to the Other side with Bill Withers, two of the Great Ones. How fortunate we all are to have witnessed the Humanity of these great men. We’re gonna miss these two. 🙁 -KMo@JohnPrineMusic pic.twitter.com/K0WUtT5vY3
— Keb' Mo' (@kebmomusic) April 8, 2020
I hope everyone can stop and listen to their favorite John Prine song right now. What an enormous loss. Sending love out there 😔
— olivia wilde (@oliviawilde) April 8, 2020
Over here on E Street, we are crushed by the loss of John Prine. John and I were "New Dylans" together in the early 70s and he was never anything but the lovliest guy in the world. A true national treasure and a songwriter for the ages. We send our love and prayers to his family.
— Bruce Springsteen (@springsteen) April 8, 2020
Words can't even come close.
I'm crushed by the loss of my dear friend, John. My heart and love go out to Fiona and all the family. For all of us whose hearts are breaking, we will keep singing his songs and holding him near. @JohnPrineMusic— Bonnie Raitt (@TheBonnieRaitt) April 8, 2020
better at it than pretty much any of us. decades of service to song. this is a loss with no upside. goodbye John Prine, your voice will live on as long as there's people who need help, which is to say forever. https://t.co/e6GA633ntl
— The Mountain Goats (@mountain_goats) April 8, 2020
The dB’s Peter Holsapple:
My world, the world of songwriters and guitar pickers, is reeling from the death of John Prine yesterday. We labor at our craft in hopes we can attain some vague approximation of the easy genius of his songs.
John Lennon said the artist’s role is as “a reflection of us all,” and no one did that with as much facility as Prine, in my opinion. From Mr. Peabody’s coal train to a poster of an old rodeo to hammering nails in planks to hair so unnaturally curled, any listener could relate to his characters and his takes on love and life. There was a plain generality to it, but it was filled with so many tiny bejeweled details that addressed the specific as well. And oh, the emotion from that road-worn beat-up voice. The real thing in every respect.
We are left with a catalog of his songs, a phalanx of his albums and minds full of memories to assuage this loss as best we can. It’s so vast, yet I think we all hoped for even more from John, had his life not been cut short.
We will have to learn to be satisfied with what we have and to revel in all of it.
We hoped for a miracle that did not come for John; and when it didn’t happen, he accidentally became someone in one of his own songs.
Peter Himmelman:
“In the summer of 1973, days after I’d seen my first rock concert (Grand Funk Railroad), Steve Leder, my friend and band mate, took me downstairs to his teen lair and played me John Prine’s “Dear Abby.” “Whaddya think,” he asked. ‘Country’ I thought. ‘I hate country.’ Steve picked up the needle and played the song again. And once more after that. I started to hear something in those lyrics; John Prine was speaking to me. He was wry, he made me smile, he was doing something different. It wasn’t Grand Funk. It wasn’t Alice Cooper or The Rolling Stones either. With just his acoustic guitar and a ragged voice it became clear that you didn’t need stacks of Marshall amps to blow people away. You needed only to mine the minutiae of living and take careful notes to make people feel the weight of their humanity.”