John Prine, an American singer and songwriter, has been hospitalized and is in "critical" condition due to Covid-19, according to a statement released earlier today, March 29.
In a post on John Prine's official Twitter account, a statement "From the Prine Family" says that the folk and country icon was hospitalized last Thursday, March 26, after "a sudden onset" of symptoms related to Covid 19. John was subsequently intubated Saturday evening, March 28. The statement also states that while John receives care, his situation is "critical."
The family statement also expresses gratitude to the fans who have "loved and supported John over the years" and asks to send love and support to the Grammy Hall of Fame awardee.
"Know that we love you, and John loves you", the statement concludes.
Fiona Prine, John's wife, earlier revealed that she had been tested positive for the coronavirus. In an Instagram post, Fiona shares her diagnosis and asks other people to stay home. She also shares in the IGTV video that both she and her husband were both tested. However, John Prine's result came back, "indeterminate."
The "Angel of Montgomery" singer, now 73 years old, faces higher risks of contracting the diseases due to his medical history and his advanced age. Early in 1998, Prine has been diagnosed with squamous cell cancer on his neck; it required major surgery. The procedure removed a significant amount of diseased tissue and followed by weeks of therapy. It left him with an altered voice, but Prine continued performing.
In 2013, John Prine was diagnosed with a form of cancer in his left lung, undergoing another procedure for its removal. He had to build up his stamina, and after six months, returned to the road for a series of tours.
John Prine started his career at an open mic event in Chicago, while delivering mail in the late 1960s. He would then release his debut album, "John Prine", to critical acclaim, thus pushing him to pursue music. His self-titled debut would contain some of his timeless hits such as "Angel from Montgomery" and "Sam Stone".
Another American singer-songwriter would later pay tribute to "Sam Stone" and Prine's songwriting. In an interview with The Huffington Post, Bob Dylan remarks Prine's "Midwestern mindtrips" and said that "he writes beautiful songs". Dylan then adds that "Nobody but Prine could write like that".
In 2003, John Prine won the "Lifetime Achievement Award for Songwriting" both at the Americana Music Honors and Awards, as well as the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. He would also be inducted to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in the same year.
In 2005, Prine would become the first singer-songwriter to perform at the Library of Congress upon the request of Ted Kooser, a United States Poet Laureate.
John Prine would then be inducted in the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2015 and included in the list of recipients Grammy's Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his "outstanding artistic significance to the field of recording.
