Joni Mitchell Reflects On 2024 Grammy Performance In ‘Grammy Greats’ TV Special
CBS aired a music-filled special on Sunday, 29 December, titled Grammy Greats: The Most Memorable Moments. As its title suggests, the program recalled various performance highlights that took place over the years at the Grammy Awards ceremony.
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One especially memorable moment was the emotional performance by Joni Mitchell that took place this past February during the 2024 Grammy ceremony. This marked the first time that the legendary 81-year-old Canadian singer-songwriter ever performed on the Grammys.
Mitchell performed a beautiful version of her 1960s folk-rock classic Both Sides Now, accompanied by her pal Brandi Carlile, along with Allison Russell, Jacob Collier, SistaStrings, Lucius, and Blake Mills.
In an interview segment on the special, Joni explained why she chose to perform that particular song at the Grammy ceremony.
“Usually when I’m in a deal like that, I play the thing that I’ve most recently written, which is all that interests me,” she noted. “[Since I’d never been on the Grammys before] I decided to play what’s appeared to be people’s favourite song.”
The Grammy Greats special also delved into the back story of what led up to Mitchell’s Grammy performance. In 2015, Joni suffered a brain aneurysm that resulted in major health issues, including hampering her ability to speak and walk. Even before the aneurysm, Mitchell had stopped performing and recording music.
As she recuperated, Mitchell began hosting gatherings at her home that were organized by singer/songwriter Brandi Carlile, and featured various musicians singing tunes for and with Joni. These get-togethers came to be known as “Joni Jams,” and helped Mitchell in her recovery. It also inspired her to want to perform again.
Mitchell made her full-fledged return to the stage in July 2022 during a surprise appearance at the Newport Folk Festival. Carlile had been scheduled to perform with unspecified “friends,” but she wound up presenting a recreation of one of the “Joni Jams” that Mitchell had been hosting. Mitchell played a 13-song set accompanied by various guest musicians and singers.
“Brandi has been like my ambassador,” Mitchell noted in Grammy Greats. “[I]t was her idea that I play Newport, not mine. You know, she just kind of was the driving force behind me.”
Since the 2022 Newport performance, Mitchell has played several other “Joni Jams”-style concerts with Carlile and other guest artists. Mitchell’s Grammy performance also was presented in a similar fashion.
Mitchell’s Grammy Greats segment ended with the star poignantly sharing how she’s feeling now, while expressing her passion for living.
“Life is miraculous. Delicious,” she said with a smile. “Yeah, it’s good to be here. I’m lucky to be here. I was comatose for a while. You know, I had to learn to walk again. I had to learn so many things again. I feel blessed.”
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