John Prine Tribute Benefit ‘You Got Gold’ Returns To Nashville As An Annual Event

“You Got Gold: Celebrating the Songs of John Prine” returns to Nashville venues in October, following the success of last year’s inaugural three-day run benefitting the late Americana icon’s Hello In There Foundation.

The Prine family presents “You Got Gold” with shows at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s CMA Theater (Oct. 8); The Basement East (Oct. 9); and the historic Ryman Auditorium on Prine’s birthday (Oct. 10).

Like last year’s event, “You Got Gold” will feature an array of surprise artists, celebrating not only Prine’s esteemed career, but also the beloved music community he built over the past 50 years. The 2022 edition included young artists Prine championed and nurtured over the years such as Brandi Carlile, Margo Price and Kacey Musgraves, Allison Russell and JT Nero, Kurt Vile, The War And Treaty, Tyler Childers, Jason Isbell, Amanda Shires, Tre Burt, Hiss Golden Messenger, Nathaniel Rateliff, Shawn Camp, Leyla McCalla, The Milk Carton Kids and son Tommy Prine, now establishing his own music career. 

Also appearing in the inaugural “You Got Gold,” delayed a year because of the COVID pandemic, were Prine contemporaries including Emmylou Harris, Lucinda Williams, Bonnie Raitt, Chris Isaak & Nicole Atkins, Lyle Lovett, Dwight Yoakam, Bob Weir and Ramblin’ Jack Elliott 

Tickets for all three shows will go on sale to the public Friday, June 30 at 10 a.m. CT. A variety of presales will also be available this week for past “You Got Gold” ticketbuyers (starting Wednesday, June 28 at 10 a.m. CT) and Prine’s fan club (starting Wednesday, June 28 at noon) with local venue/promotor pre-sales following on Thursday, June 29 at 10 a.m. CT. Full ticket details can be found at the event website. 

“The time I spent with John on the road made one thing very clear – the community he helped create was always, and remains, at the heart of the music and the work we continue to do every day,” Fiona Prine, John’s widow, says of the celebration. “I’m so happy that ‘You Got Gold’ will now become an annual event to ensure that we maintain that connection and grow our beloved community. I look forward to seeing everyone back in Nashville this October, to celebrate John’s songs and help further the work of the Hello in There Foundation.” 

Last year’s “You Got Gold” tribute, which was also streamed on the Mandolin platform, raised nearly $500,000 for the Hello in There Foundation, established by the Prine family after John’s death in April 2020 of complications from COVID-19. The work of the Hello In There Foundation is inspired by John’s simple song title, “Hello In There.” The Foundation aims to identify and collaborate with individuals and communities where people are marginalized, discriminated against or, for any reason, are otherwise forgotten. 

Benefitting organizations for the 2023 “You Got Gold” concerts include the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition, Porter’s Call, Renewal House and the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans. 

Additionally, proceeds from the CMA Theater show will benefit the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s “Words & Music” program, which is expected to reach more than 10,000 students through a songwriting curriculum that improves literacy and social-emotional learning.

In addition to supporting the museum’s educational mission, the gift will honor the memory of Peter Cooper, who served as the museum’s senior director, producer and writer, and was also an award-winning music journalist, author, Grammy-nominated producer, recording musician, songwriter and father. 

Regarded as one of the English language’s premier phrase-turners, Prine is a four-time Grammy-winner, a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award honoree, a seven-time Americana Music Award-winner, a PEN New England Lyrics Award recipient and member of both the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. 

Since his debut in 1971, Prine released over eighteen albums and has had his songs recorded by Johnny Cash, Carly Simon, Bette Midler, Bonnie Raitt, Norah Jones, George Strait, Miranda Lambert, Zac Brown Band and many others, while drawing effusive praise from Bob Dylan, Kris Kristofferson, Bonnie Raitt, Roger Waters, Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen and more, who knew him as a smiling, shuffling force for good.