Americana Giant John Prine Hospitalized With COVID-19 Symptoms: 'Situation Is Critical'

John Kurc – John Prine
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Americana giant John Prine is hospitalized with COVID-19 after suffering a sudden onset of symptoms Thursday (March 26). His family announced his “situation is critical” and that he was intubated Saturday night.

“After a sudden onset of COVID-19 symptoms, John was hospitalized on Thursday (3/26),” Prine’s family posted on his Twitter account. “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 on more of that love and support now. And know that we love you, and John loves you.”

Prine’s wife, Fiona Whelan Prine, posted a video to Facebook a week prior saying she has tested positive for the coronavirus and that she and her husband were self-isolating, including from each other. At the time, she said while she tested positive, his results were “indeterminate.”

Prine has faced challenges before, including surviving cancer twice. He recently postponed dates in order to have hip surgery and had a procedure to place a stent in his heart last summer.

The much-loved “mailman from Chicago” has been a fixture since being discovered, along with fellow Chicagoan Steve Goodman (“The City Of New Orleans,” “You Never Even Called Me By My Name,” a co-write with Prine) by Kris Kristoffersen in the early 1970s. His eponymous debut albut in 1971 contained songs that would become standards in his voluminous canon, including “Angel From Montgomery,” “Paradise,” “Illegal Smile,” “Sam Stone” and more.

His most recent album release, Tree Of Forgiveness, was honored by the Americana Music Association for album of the year, and he was nominated in 2019 for inclusion in the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. In recent years, Prine has released his music on his own Oh Boy Records label and become a friend and mentor to a new generation of talented singer/songwriters who, like him, don’t fit the stereotypical Nashville mold including Sturgill Simpson, Margo Price, Jason Isbell, Amanda Shires, and others.

Despite being sidelined on occasion over the last years, Prine has reported average ticket sales of 2,414 and gross of $178,212 in addition to hosting the “All The Best Festival” in the Dominican Republic and being a staple of festivals including Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, Telluride Folk Festival, Newport Folk, Americana MusicFest, and Merle Fest.

Prine has also been a favorite of the Ryman Auditorium, where he sold out a New Year’s Eve show with Marty Stuart and The Secret Sisters, moving 4,244 tickets and grossing $595,563. Prior to that, his Oct. 5-6, 2018 landmark performances also sold out, with 4,555 tickets grossing $426,370.