John Prine died Tuesday, April 7 in Nashville, reported Associated Press.
Prine was 73-years-old. The singer/songwriter’s death was due to complications from COVID-19, Prine’s family confirmed. He had been hospitalized at Vanderbilt Medical Center for the past month.
Fiona Whelan Prine, John Prine’s wife wrote on Facebook.
Our beloved John died yesterday evening at Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville TN. We have no words to describe the grief our family is experiencing at this time. John was the love of my life and adored by our sons Jody, Jack and Tommy, daughter in law Fanny, and by our grandchildren.
John contracted Covid-19 and in spite of the incredible skill and care of his medical team at Vanderbilt he could not overcome the damage this virus inflicted on his body.
I sat with John – who was deeply sedated- in the hours before he passed and will be forever grateful for that opportunity.
My dearest wish is that people of all ages take this virus seriously and follow guidelines set by the CDC. We send our condolences and love to the thousands of other American families who are grieving the loss of loved ones at this time – and to so many other families across the world.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the outpouring of love we have received from family, friends, and fans all over the world. John will be so missed but he will continue to comfort us with his words and music and the gifts of kindness, humor and love he left for all of us to share.
In lieu of flowers or gifts at this time we would ask that a donation be made to one of the following non profits – Thistle Farms, Room in the Inn, and Nashville Rescue Mission.
Rolling Stone called Prine the Mark Twain of American Songwriting. Earlier this year, Prine was awarded a GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award.
Prine began his career in 1971 when he signed with Atlantic Records.
“Made from a mold now broken, John Prine was a walking, grinning argument for human beings as a pretty good species,” said Kyle Young, CEO, Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in a statement. “In John’s songs, humor and heartache dance together like Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. His words and melodies draw chuckles and blood, and tears of sorrow and redemption, all leading to truths widely known but never before articulated. John’s mind was a treasure chest, open to us all. We mourn his passing, even as we hold the treasure.”
Just recently, the music community mourned the loss of country artist Joe Diffie, who also died due to complications of Coronavirus.
