John Prine To Receive The Grammy’s Lifetime Achievement Award
Songwriting legend, Americana forefather, and (possibly) future Country Music Hall of Famer John Prine will be one of the 2020 recipients of the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. It will be the biggest trophy John Prine will have received in his illustrious career, right behind the jukebox Steve Goodman bought for him in exchange for his writing credits on the David Allan Coe hit “You Never Even Called Me By My Name.”
The Lifetime Achievement Award celebrates performers who have made outstanding contributions of artistic significance to the field of recording, and is voted on by the Recording Academy’s National Board of Trustees. John Prine has won two Grammy Awards previously in 1992 and 2006 for Best Contemporary Folk Album, and has been nominated for eight more Grammys, including Best New Artist in 1972. His self-titled debut from 1971 was also inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2015.
The Grammy Awards chose John Prine for their distinct Lifetime Achievement Award for his witty approach to storytelling that has made him one of the most revered country & folk singer/songwriters since his emergence in the ’70s.
“Our industry is one that prides itself on influence and paying it forward, and each year the Recording Academy has the privilege of honoring a select group of visionaries whose creative contributions have rippled throughout our culture,” says Deborah Dugan, President/CEO of the Recording Academy. “Our Special Merit Awards recipients have molded their musical passion into pieces of history that will continue to influence and inspire generations of music creators and music lovers to come.”
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 for the second year in a row in 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. John Prine is a survivor of squamous cell cancer, which he was diagnosed with in 1998.
The other 2020 Lifetime Achievement Awards winners will be rock band Chicago, jazz and soul singer Roberta Flack, soul pioneer Isaac Hayes, punk rocker Iggy Pop, hip-hop group Public Enemy, and gospel and blues legend Sister Rosetta Tharpe.
December 21, 2019 @ 11:07 am
I never knew how much I wanted Iggy Pop to cover John Prine songs until now… and vice versa.
December 22, 2019 @ 7:57 pm
A * SUPER Winner AWARD *, John Pine!????
((The very BEST to YOU & Well Deserved))
~ Keep the Great Music always~
December 21, 2019 @ 9:54 pm
I would love to go see John Prine can you tell me if he is going to be near Augusta ga anytime? Thk you Beverly morgan
December 21, 2019 @ 9:57 pm
Please tell me if he’s going to be near Augusta ga soon thk you
December 21, 2019 @ 10:59 pm
I don’t know.
December 22, 2019 @ 2:20 am
What a Guy,a friend & i started listening & playing music & singing along with John in the 70s, wonderful memories, Congratulations John,Well Deserved
December 22, 2019 @ 2:53 am
Would like to hear your reasoning as to why John Prine could be elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Got absolutely nothing against John Prine. Have seen him perform and that was very impressive but surely his music is much more folk/Americana than outright country. I think it would be a great deal harder to convince people that he’s worthy a place in the Hall of Fame when the likes of Hank Jnr, Dwight Yoakam, Jerry Lee Lewis, George Hamilton 1V, Gene Watson and Keith Whitley are not.
Not in the least trying to pick a fight just interested in your suggestion that Prine could be a future member of the Hall of Fame.
Enjoy reading your stuff all year. Keep up the fight and Merry Christmas from Scotland.
December 22, 2019 @ 8:56 am
That’s a good question and I have a good answer. Each year three artists are inducted in three categories: Modern Era, Veterna’s Era, and songwriter/musician/non performer in a rotating cycle every three years. So every three years a pure songwriter is inducted. I think it’s fair to think John Prine should at least be considered, since he’s been considered for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and is in all the major soongwriters halls of fame. Also, he would not be competing with Hank Jr., Dwight, Jerry Lee, or any of the others if he got in. He would get in via a different category. And for the record, I think all of the guys you mentioned should get in as well.
December 23, 2019 @ 7:58 am
I love John Prine, but because he doesn’t really fit into any genre, I can’t make a strong argument for his getting into any hall of fame except the one he’s already in. (Songwriters) His music, however, has been with me most of my adult life. He helped me get through a recent rough period in my life. ( I didn’t even know until then that music could do that. I thought it was just one of life’s pleasures.) . I think the Grammy for lifetime achievement is perfect. He’s endured for fifty or so years with a smallish fan base that never left him and for whom he’s always remained “relevant” whatever that means.
One of his greatest gifts to me has been this site which I found through your review of “The Tree of Forgiveness.” And this site just keeps on giving. I listen to so much great music now, and I rediscovered live music. I went to Prine’s New Year’s Eve show in Nashville. Then Mike and the Moonpies at the Club Cafe (very few people there and a fantastic show), and Hayes Carll, and Sara Shook, and Chris Stapleton and Margot Price, and Robert Earl Keen, and Kelsey Waldron, the whole fantastic Americana fest. I’ve got tickets to Chris Knight for next week. I, frankly, may be getting close to capacity in t-shirts. I am really tempted by the Mile 0 festival.
December 22, 2019 @ 7:41 am
Have seen John Prine twice, both venues were perfect for an almost personal concert with one of our best artists ever. Singer/songwriter extrordinair
December 22, 2019 @ 1:48 pm
I was at The Station Inn to see Jim Rooney and the Irregulars a few weeks back and Prine showed up and did a few songs. He’s my favorite artist to see live. A force of nature. A lot of people talk about having a musical “aha” moment when they heard the Beatles or the Rolling Stones for the first time, but Prine was that for me. John Prine and Bob Mcdill are the pinnacle of country songwriting for me. Totally deserved.
December 23, 2019 @ 2:32 am
I was in the Station Inn sixteen years ago next month and saw Jim Rooney and the Irregulars. John Prine showed up then too and did a few songs. Created quite a stir in the place when he did his songs. Shawn Camp was the other that stood out that evening.
December 23, 2019 @ 6:00 am
Haha. That’s great. They are still doing the same set list with the same characters. I love it. Never once a rehearsal in over twenty years.
December 22, 2019 @ 9:49 pm
Love John Prine don’t get me wrong. But as far as songwriters go and folk/soft rock musicians, I’d have to say Gorden Lightfoot has most likely written more music than all the above. Just saying to all you Space Monkeys out there. What a great song!
December 24, 2019 @ 6:04 am
I don’t claim to be a Gordon Lightfoot expert, but kinda hard to believe he’s written more songs than Prine. If he has,kudos I guess?
I think it’s based more on quality, not quantity. Again,nothing against Gordon, but you would be hard pressed to find a songwriter who has inspired more people to pick up a pen and write a song than John. He’s up there with Bob Dylan.
December 29, 2019 @ 7:52 pm
Yes, John absolutely deserves any award. He’s great! He wrote In spite of ourselves at the request of Billy Bob Thornton for a movie they made. Can’t get much better than that. But, I did look into the song writing question. From what I’ve read wikipedia etc. In an interview in 76 right after his #1 hit Sundown Lightfoot was asked this question and said well now in 76 I’ve written about 540 and 210 recorded. 2008 it was over 300 recorded. And meaning no disrespect to John or yourself it did say John had 12 or so but I’m positive he had many more, you did say quality over quantity, I suggest you give G.L. a listen. Numerous 10 ten’s with the above mentioned Sundown #1 was also got or nominated song of the year in 74, the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald #2, and probably the most beautiful song, If you could read my mind. And two many top 40’s to mention here. They both had many other great singers cover their songs, some similar, It was eye opening the similarities between the 2! You mentioned Bob Dylan who I believe gave John his big break, Dylan said his favorite singer/songwriters were Prine/Lightfoot and Buffett, the latter said Lightfoot was one of his biggest inspirations. Dylan also covered both But some of the one’s that covered G.L. it’s like wow, Belafonte, Mathis, The grateful dead, Jim Croce, Andy Williams, T. Keith, E. Church, Hank Jr. and The King! Doesn’t get any better than that! And too many more to mention. So with like I said will all due respect, quality hands down Lightfoot. I know if you said the same on a Lightfoot forum for lack of a better word, you’d get the same flak I will. FWIW it was not right for me to get in a pissing contest because it is Prine’s time to shine.
December 22, 2019 @ 9:53 pm
Love John Prine don’t get me wrong. But as far as singer/songwriters go and folk/soft rock musicians, I’d have to say Gorden Lightfoot has most likely written more music than all the above. Just saying to all you Space Monkeys out there. What a great song!
December 23, 2019 @ 9:18 am
Some music artists cannot be categorized and shouldn’t be. Doing so only diminishes an appreciation for their contribution and influence. Three great examples, although there are others, are Gram Parsons and John Prine and John Lennon. Rock and country bands frequetly cover their original music. If a musicians covers a Parsons’ song with two guitars, bass and drums it sounds more like rock. But using guitars, bass, drums, pedal steel, dobro and fiddle it sounds country. Check out Lennon’s
“Crippled Inside” Is it rock, honky tonk, blues or all three? One thing for sure is that the lyrics are socially political. Both Parsons and Prine have written socially political songs from different era’s. Try classifying Woody Guthrie and Jimmy Rodgers. It’s easy to see how politics plays a significant role when it comes to rewards from different musical catagories. It is loosening up a bit but let’s not forget what happened to The Dixie Chicks when they expressed their opinions through country music. Check out two John Prine songs. “Some Humans Ain’t Human” and “Your Flag Decal Won’t Get You Into Heaven Anymore”. Don’t forget “Crippled Inside”.