John Prine Undergoing Surgery, Postpones Numerous Tour Dates

Songwriting legend John Prine has been forced to cancel numerous performance dates this summer due to ongoing health concerns. The 72-year-old had canceled his appearance at the New Orleans Jazz Festival on May 4th after a routine medical procedure resulted in a longer recovery time. Now Prine has been advised by his doctors that he is at an elevated risk for stroke, and will be having surgery this week to insert a stent which will hopefully remedy the issue.
“With sincere apologies for any inconvenience caused, the Prine family and Oh Boy Records regretfully announce the postponement of John Prine Summer tour dates,” an announcement read. “We are currently working on rescheduling the affected dates and will share updated information as soon as possible — all original tickets will remain valid. Alternatively, refunds are available at original point of purchase.”
The cancellations extend from late July into August, and include an appearance at Red Rocks in Colorado on July 28th, and the Edmonton Folk Festival on August 11th (see all canceled dates below). At the moment, his European tour scheduled to start on August 23rd in Sweden, and run through September 9th is still a go, as well as all other announced tour dates afterwards. Prine’s appearance at Red Rocks in Colorado with the Colorado Symphony and I’m With Her has already been rescheduled to September 18th.
A two-time Grammy winner, 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, as well as BMI’s Troubadour Award, 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.
More information on John Prine’s health if and when it becomes available.
Postponed John Prine Tour Dates:
- July 28 – Red Rocks – Morrison, CO ( Rescheduled for September 18, 2019)
- July 30 – Red Butte Gardens – Salt Lake City, UT
- August 2 – Oregon Zoo – Portland, OR
- August 4 – Woodland Park Zoo – Seattle, WA
- August 6 – Queen Elizabeth Theatre – Vancouver, BC
- August 8 – Shaw Amphitheatre – Banff, AB
- August 9 – Jack Singer PAC Calgary, AB
- August 11- Edmonton Folk Festival – Edmonton, AB
July 23, 2019 @ 12:47 pm
Really sorry to hear this. The St. Louis date was postponed until October. We hope to see him then but he needs to focus on getting better above all else.
Prayers to him and the entire Prine family.
July 23, 2019 @ 1:05 pm
Be well John.
July 23, 2019 @ 2:11 pm
I’m so sorry to hear this. I’ve seen him twice in the last months, at the Ryman for New Year’s Eve and at Kings Theater in New York. Both times were lovely. The songs are wonderful, and, frankly, you just feel good being in the same room with him. I still listen to his entire catalog often (Well, maybe not Pink Cadillac, except for “How Lucky.”) It’s amazing to me how fresh his music stays, even some of the weird, silly stuff. I hope he regains his strength soon and is able to enjoy years more of this resurgence —he deserves it. There is a little bio of him in Austin Songwriter that says it all “Loved by all, without an enemy in the world, he has soldiered on through the peaks and valleys of his own life, always there to help us understand those of our own.”
Over the last few months I’ve attended a few concerts at a small club in Pittsburgh, Hayes Carll, Mike and the Moonpies, and Sarah Shuck. I was shocked by the number of young people who brought up his name and had seen him perform, and considered him perfectly ”relevant” (whatever the hell that means) in the broad stream of country/folk music. They “inherited” him from their parents or from other people they admire.
July 24, 2019 @ 4:00 am
Growing up here in NC, John Prine was our lodestar. Every high school party had a scruffy boy in flannel and a ballcap playing Prine on an acoustic guitar.
July 24, 2019 @ 5:51 am
Yeah he was here a few weeks ago with Tyler Childers opening to a sold out crowd and he was incredible. Hope everything goes ok.
July 23, 2019 @ 3:54 pm
Have watched you from your start. I know from experience your fight. All the best and fight that wolf away…..see you soon
July 24, 2019 @ 5:39 pm
Take care…..we’ll be here.