John Prine In Critical Condition Due to COVID-19 Symptoms
Songwriting legend John Prine is currently in critical condition in the hospital, and is hooked up to a ventilator after suffering from Coronavirus symptoms. The news comes after John Prine’s wife, Fiona Whelan Prine, tested positive for the Coronavirus in mid March, and had been in quarantine and isolated from John, and recovering from the illness. At the time of his wife’s positive test, John Prine also received a test, but it came back indeterminate.
“After a sudden onset of COVID-19 symptoms, John was hospitalized on Thursday (3/26),” the family said in a statement. “He was intubated Saturday evening, and continues to receive care, but his situation is critical. This is hard news for us to share. But so many of you have loved and supported John over the years, we wanted to let you know, and give you the chance to send more of that love and support now. And know that we love you, and John loves you.”
At 73-years-old with underlying health conditions, John Prine fits the profile of an individual who should be concerned about COVID-19. John Prine is a survivor of squamous cell Cancer, which he was diagnosed with in 1998. Then in 2013, Prine was diagnosed with Cancer in his left lung and underwent surgery to remove it. Over the last couple of years, John Prine has cancelled numerous appearances due to health issues.
John Prine set historic numbers for the release of his 2018 album The Tree of Forgiveness—his first album of original material in 13 years. He also won the Americana Artist of the Year in both 2017 and 2018, won both the Americana Song of the Year and Album of the Year in 2019, and has been enjoying a resurgence in popularity as younger artists embrace him as a songwriting pioneer and legend. Prine was also nominated for consideration by the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2018, speaking to the 72-year-old songwriter’s wide influence. He also received the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Grammys in early 2020.
John Prine joins a growing list of musical celebrities affected by the Coronavirus. Jackson Browne, and multi-instrumentalist Larry Campbell have also both contracted the virus. And on Sunday, it was announced that 90’s country star Joe Diffie had died due to complications from COVID-19.
March 29, 2020 @ 3:03 pm
What is there to say. My thoughts and prayers are with Mr. Prine and his family.
March 29, 2020 @ 3:07 pm
What rough rough news. Hope he pulls through
March 29, 2020 @ 3:16 pm
Wow this is awful. He hasn’t looked good for a while. Hopefully he can pull through.
March 29, 2020 @ 3:30 pm
hope he makes it. very serious situation.
March 29, 2020 @ 3:40 pm
We can’t lose Joe Diffie and then John Prine so quickly
March 29, 2020 @ 3:42 pm
John Prine May possess the most beautiful mind in the history of music. Love his work and sincerely hope he can kick this thing.
March 29, 2020 @ 3:42 pm
My prayers to him and his family.
March 29, 2020 @ 3:57 pm
One word Hydroxychloroquinine. I’m no doctor but I am hearing amazing survival stories from Covid-19 patients of recent. I know, its unproven in testing and clinical trials, but Drs all over the world are using it right now. These are desperate times. If you got somebody with nothing to lose then try it! If Im his family I would be pushing whatever buttons I could to make it happen,
This thing is insane! Man this is dire and depressing. Kenny Rogers, Jan Howard, Joe Diffie…stop the madness.
March 29, 2020 @ 4:02 pm
Yes, post medically unproven advice, about a drug that can kill you from the side effects. My wife is a nurse who is in danger because of this virus, and fools like you are not helping. Quit posting lies, you’re going to get someone killed. JFC, taking medical advice from Trump and Rush is like letting Dennis Hastert babysit your kids.
March 29, 2020 @ 4:28 pm
Most of us have close friends and family in the medical field. My own job is considered essential and I go out each day and try to hope I don’t get it and I’m not spreading it. My parents and my wife s parents are older and high risk. We are all are worried dude. I clearly stated I’m no doctor. I don’t personally care what you think. I’m not a fool. I don’t engage in name calling on here and I wont go down the road arguing with you. Nobody is going to SCM for medical advice either, so I’m not getting anyone killed by mentioning a generic drug that has already been used for years safely on people. It’s under evaluation for Covid 19 in the Us right now. And some doctors are quietly using it on worst case patients. The stuff that got someone killed was 2 desperate folks that ingested aquarium cleaner without getting advice. That was bad judgement to say the least. Sorry you think I’m a terrible human being, that’s really too bad. And save me your political hatred. I haven’t raised politics, you did. You know nothing about me and I know little about you, so let’s not disparage each others motives and agree to disagree. Stay healthy man!
March 30, 2020 @ 6:16 am
Thank You Kevin,
For what you do in the medical field.
And thank you to everyone out there who are working with the public, neighbor helping neighbor, etc.
March 30, 2020 @ 7:48 am
Thanks Di. I’m actually not in medical. I’m in public works construction, infrastructure projects. Currently supervising out in the field. Governor considers infrastructure essential for the moment, although that could change.
By coincidence, just read a story this morning that the FDA has approved the use of hydroxyquinine for Covid-19 on an emergency basis. Supposedly the government is procuring some 30 million doses to distribute to hospitals as needed. I guess it means doctors will have it as an option. Maybe it’ll save some lives, I hope so.
If I’m guilty of anything, it’s trying to find some basis for optimism anywhere possible right now. We all need that to keep going. It’s a human thing. Stay safe!
March 30, 2020 @ 8:25 am
I don’t think there’s anything wrong with remaining positive, and giving people hope through this crisis. This can’t be equated to calling it all a “hoax,” or that it’s not to be taken serious. Hope is a powerful drug, as is fear. Hope raises hormones in your body such as serotonin that help boost your immune system, while fear boosts cortisol, which lowers your immune system. Constantly citing worst case models and using this crisis to sabre rattle politically is not helping anyone. Assuring people we will get through this, which we will, is an important part of public health, both physically and mentally.
March 30, 2020 @ 7:48 am
“According to a French study which looked at work by Chinese researchers, there was some evidence that hydroxychloroquine could slow the spread of COVID-19 by blocking it from entering cells in the body. But other research appears to show it has no obvious benefits, and in some cases has negative effects, according to The Guardian.”
March 30, 2020 @ 8:24 am
So some guy who helps with infrastructure is now a whizz kid at medical diagnostics. Next thing we will have medical students building interstates.
March 30, 2020 @ 12:04 am
@TrevorC: Not that anyone is likely taking treatment advice from a site called Saving Country Music, but Oh, please! John Prine is at death’s door.
It’s not like he’s being given anything that’s “medically proven”–or better than Hydroxychloroquinine–against coronavirus.
March 30, 2020 @ 7:54 am
Meanwhile, Trevor:
The FDA has approved hydroxychloroquine sulfate as an emergency treatment (under the supervision of physicians) for the coronavirus, and the Food and Drug Administration has accepted 31 million doses which have been made available by two suppliers.
Seems that, so far, Trump is correct with respect to this drug.
Have a nice day.
March 30, 2020 @ 8:27 am
Get real it is not Trump. Somebody has whispered this into his ear. And off to the races he goes. The real miracle here is that he can pronounce the word.
March 30, 2020 @ 8:34 am
So, Paddy, you’re saying Trevor was wrong about Trump?
Agreed!
March 30, 2020 @ 8:30 am
Our son contracted giardiasis, after a whitewater rafting trip in the Poudre River Canyon in Colorado.
Was scary as all hell.
After consulting with a physician friend, in Virginia, and very qualified physicians, at St. Vincent’s ER on the Northside of INDY, our son was given quinacrine, a med quite related to chloroquine.
Again, scary as all hell to give our son this drug at his then, 9 years of age.
It worked well, did it’s job, & our son is healthy & strong.
Hoping for good results with the chloroquine that will be administered, by prescription, to people around the world
March 30, 2020 @ 8:40 am
hey why are you trying to start a train wreck in the comments? kevin has heard amazing stories! i guess he didn’t hear the ones about self-administering and dying…
March 30, 2020 @ 8:52 am
These political comments on both sides ARE starting to train wreck this comments section, and I am not going to allow it to happen. I would request of everyone that they keep the discussion on topic, and respectful to the gravity of the discussion here, which is the health of John Prine.
March 30, 2020 @ 1:24 pm
thegentile’s new name is pennyontherail
March 30, 2020 @ 2:22 pm
i’m sure that passes as whit somewhere
March 30, 2020 @ 6:30 pm
Come on now. I know you can come back with something a little better than that.
March 30, 2020 @ 7:18 pm
sorry, as trigger has pointed out to me i’m the only person trying to goad others on this site and derail the conversation so i can’t do that anymore. glad everyone else is staying on track and abiding by his rules.
March 29, 2020 @ 4:00 pm
I’ll repeat… fuck CV. Sucks.
March 30, 2020 @ 10:50 am
Cameron he’s been better than he’s ever been after what he’s been through. sure he looks rough he lost part of his throat throat cancer he came through said fuck you death I’m going to go undergo some of the most heaviest chemotherapy and radiation for my wife and my family. just a little over a year ago he had a heart condition another minor setback ended up having to have a stent inserted came right back again… so all we can do is pretty much hope he can come through one more time.
March 29, 2020 @ 4:00 pm
I’m getting angry at everyone who downplayed this virus.
March 29, 2020 @ 8:40 pm
Don’t worry, the country will be open by Easter!
March 30, 2020 @ 8:08 am
It’s no worse then the common flu right? The hysteria!
March 30, 2020 @ 8:30 am
Yeah. Like who
March 29, 2020 @ 4:04 pm
This is terrible news. Prine is truly one of my songwriting heroes! He rates right up there with Dylan, Cash, Roger Miller and Tom T!
And I smiled on the Wabash the last time I passed it
Yes I gave her a wink from the passenger side
And my foot fell asleep as I swallowed my candy
Knowing he was in heaven before he died
March 29, 2020 @ 4:04 pm
Then definitely don’t read the SXSW thread
March 29, 2020 @ 5:00 pm
That post and that thread were bad in the moment, and especially bad in retrospect. In cancelling SXSW the organizers potentially saved many, many lives.
March 29, 2020 @ 5:08 pm
I think credit is also due to the Austin mayor and other public officials around the country who acted early and were subjected to stinging criticism and outrage in response. They weren’t afraid to take it on the chin to save some lives
March 29, 2020 @ 4:06 pm
Prine, Willie and Bob Dylan are the three I dread hearing about but know could go any day. This doesn’t look good. I can’t listen to any Prine now and maybe not for a while after he dies. Too much!
March 29, 2020 @ 8:44 pm
Just the opposite Jimbo. Play it often and loud and smile as you listen!
Glad I got to see Prine last year when he came through Portland. He had been canceling shows here and there for health for a couple years now. Truly a great American songwriter.
March 30, 2020 @ 3:16 am
JT, that was Fionas direct request to Jessica and myself when she called last night. Fiona can’t even see John, as she’s locked down with this gotdamn virus herself (though it seems she’s doing much better than John) and when I asked her if there’s anything Jess and I could do, her words were “just play his music”. So, JIMBO, walk on over there, push the buttons, twirl the knobs, and play it loud. We need poets now more than ever.
March 29, 2020 @ 4:18 pm
This makes me so sad. There are few artists whose music has been so important to individual fans as John Prine’s has. Many of us grew up with him and grew old with him. We quote his lyrics and use them to understand and deal with our own issues whether it’s to remind us that’s it’s (after all) only a half an inch of water that we think we going to drown in, or that it’s a crooked piece of time that we’re living in, or if “they” take an inch we’ll give ‘me back a mile.
March 29, 2020 @ 4:20 pm
Seems like the media was right to be concerned after all
March 29, 2020 @ 4:31 pm
This news sucks, the Joe Diffie news sucks, the news out of NY and Albany (Ga) and New Orleans, it all sucks. This virus sucks.
And while yes, there are risk factors that make you more likely to die, anyone can die: infants, teenagers, marathon runners, and anyone can be critically ill (50% of critical hospitalizations in the US are for under 50’s). We should all be concerned.
Stay home, and check on your loved ones frequently. Stay safe.
March 29, 2020 @ 4:56 pm
Spot on. It’s infuriating that there are still many people out there who point to old age or any sort of pre-existing condition to say “it’s not that bad”. Even if it were only dangerous for that segment of the population (which it isn’t), that’s the biggest pile of shit of an “argument” imaginable.
March 29, 2020 @ 4:50 pm
Just read where they shut down the last coal fired generator in Muhlenburg County.
John Prine is my all time favorite. Lordy I hope he pulls through.
March 29, 2020 @ 5:25 pm
Prayers for John and his family. Everyone else out there please be safe as well.
March 29, 2020 @ 6:25 pm
https://www.wsmv.com/news/a-group-of-nashville-studio-singers-perform-an-epic-cell/article_2245fbf8-6eb2-11ea-9be3-db6cec04c8f3.html
Incredibly beautiful song.
Prayers for Mr. & Mrs. Prine, and their family
March 29, 2020 @ 7:15 pm
Fuck this goddamn virus
March 29, 2020 @ 8:34 pm
This day is too much. ???? Prayers for John Prine.❤️
March 29, 2020 @ 9:13 pm
Shit man. Unfortunately, I think the list is gonna start getting long. This shit sucks!
March 29, 2020 @ 11:41 pm
https://www.facebook.com/rogerwaters/videos/208244647074928/
March 30, 2020 @ 2:08 am
I grew up literally singing to his songs daily with my family. He’s a part of us. His Talent and personality has touched so many lives. My heart goes out to his family as well as all families impacted by this pandemic. To say this is a tragedy doesn’t begin to describe the thought of Country music without his presence. When My mother died of cancer John graciously dedicated a song in her honor at one of his performances and we played my parents favorite love song “in spite of ourselves” at her funeral it was the perfect song to bring everyone from crying to laughing. Thank you John Prine. You are and will always be a true legend. Thank you for the countless positive memories that genuinely impacted the person I am today.
March 30, 2020 @ 2:09 am
Here’s a beautiful tribute from Mac McAnally. One of many I’ve seen today.
https://www.facebook.com/macmcanally/videos/201705374602850/?sfnsn=mo&d=n&vh=e
March 30, 2020 @ 8:51 am
This is the shittiest virus ever. I find it very sad that people are dying in hospital and their nearest and dearest cannot be with them. Can you even begin to imagine a kid crying for his mum and dad and they unable to be with their child. And it does not finish there. Only one person allowed to attend funerals. No room at morgues. Bodies being stored in refridgerated lorries. And we are told we have many months to go yet. One piece of good news. A Formula One motor racing team, along with a couple of universities, have come up with a device to aid breathing of patients in hospital. This device will not replace ventilators. It is not for those who really need the ventilators but will aid those who have not reached critical stage. It is going under testing this week and if successful will go into production next week. They hope to produce 1000 per day. The firm is Mercedes and you can rest assured they will not let their name go on a sub standard product. From what I have read they are quite willing to share with other firms. It only shows that big business can help.
March 30, 2020 @ 8:54 am
Prine played last year at Sweetland Amphitheater in Lagrange GA last summer….about 30 minutes from where I live. Regretted not seeing him then….even more so now. Prayers going out to him and Fiona for complete healing.
March 30, 2020 @ 11:45 am
Word this morning, from his wife, is his status has improved to “stable”. Keep the prayers coming for him though…
https://www.sfgate.com/news/us/article/Singer-John-Prine-is-in-stable-condition-his-15166518.php
March 30, 2020 @ 12:07 pm
Great news
March 30, 2020 @ 12:38 pm
I REALLY hope John Prine can get through this. He is such a legend and his music has had such an impact on so many and will continue to do so for years to come. Thank you John, get well soon.
March 30, 2020 @ 3:31 pm
Update from Fiona
I need to clarify what I mean by “John is stable”. That is not the same as improving. There is no cure for Covid-19. He needs our prayers and love – as do the thousands of others who are critically ill. Stay at home. Wash your hands. We love you.
September 24, 2020 @ 3:57 pm
Sad to see John go. But he did not die of Covid 19. He died with Covid 19 from pneumonia which he was immensely suscepttible. A bad cold bug of flu would have likely killed him but the underlying cause of death would not be a cold, or maybe even flu. It would have been influenza or influenza induced pneumonia. John having cancer in one lung and neck is problematic for any respiratory ailment. Sad.