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Artist News
John Prine’s wife issues statement following musician’s death from COVID-19
By Andy Malt | Published on Thursday 9 April 2020
Following the death of John Prine earlier this week, his wife and manager Fiona Whelan Prine has issued a statement, urging people to take the threat of COVID-19 seriously. Prior to his death, Prine spent nearly two weeks in intensive care being treated for the disease.
“We have no words to describe the grief our family is experiencing at this time”, she writes. “John was the love of my life and adored by our sons Jody, Jack and Tommy, daughter-in-law Fanny, and by our grandchildren”.
“John contracted COVID-19 and in spite of the incredible skill and care of his medical team at Vanderbilt [Medical Center in Nashville] he could not overcome the damage this virus inflicted on his body”, she continues. “I sat with John – who was deeply sedated – in the hours before he passed and will be forever grateful for that opportunity”.
In recent weeks Whelan Prine has been particularly critical on social media of US President Donald Trump’s response to the COVID-19 crisis.
Her statement goes on: “My dearest wish is that people of all ages take this virus seriously and follow guidelines set by [US public health institute the Centers For Disease Control And Prevention]. We send our condolences and love to the thousands of other American families who are grieving the loss of loved ones at this time – and to so many other families across the world”.
John Prine, of course, was very influential, and considered by many to be one of the great American songwriters, including by peers like Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash and Bruce Springsteen.
“We are crushed by the loss of John Prine”, said Springsteen on Twitter. “John and I were ‘New Dylans’ together in the early 70s and he was never anything but the loveliest guy in the world. A true national treasure and a songwriter for the ages”.
