After being honoured with the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song in January, Joni Mitchell's musical achievements were celebrated with a star-studded tribute performance in Washington, D.C., last night (March 1).
Celebrating Mitchell at the DAR Constitution Hall were plenty of friends and admirers, including Graham Nash, James Taylor, Marcus Mumford, Diana Krall, Herbie Hancock, Ledisi and Angélique Kidjo.
Eurythmics' Annie Lennox performed Mitchell's beloved ballad "Both Sides Now," while Kidjo performed the songwriter's jazz-leaning "Help Me." Recalling his time working on Mitchell's seminal album Blue, Taylor performed "California," while Cyndi Lauper led a group of artists through "Big Yellow Taxi."
Brandi Carlile, who has been instrumental to Mitchell's recent public appearances and performances, performed the title track of the songwriter's 2007 album Shine. Having joined her surprise performance at the Newport Folk Festival last July (which will soon see release as a live album), Carlile is set to be part of Mitchell's first headline show in over 20 years at the Gorge Amphitheatre in Quincy, WA, this June.
To close the evening, Mitchell sang George Gershwin's "Summertime" from Porgy & Bess, and her own "The Circle Game." Find performance footage and interviews from the night below via CBC News and the Associated Press.
Mitchell is the first Canadian to win the Gershwin Prize, which was established in 2007. Past honourees include Stevie Wonder, Paul McCartney, Carole King, Paul Simon, Smokey Robinson, Tony Bennett, Lionel Richie, Willie Nelson and Garth Brooks.
Last month, Mitchell's music found its way to a list of Exclaim! Staffers' Favourite Love Songs.
Celebrating Mitchell at the DAR Constitution Hall were plenty of friends and admirers, including Graham Nash, James Taylor, Marcus Mumford, Diana Krall, Herbie Hancock, Ledisi and Angélique Kidjo.
Eurythmics' Annie Lennox performed Mitchell's beloved ballad "Both Sides Now," while Kidjo performed the songwriter's jazz-leaning "Help Me." Recalling his time working on Mitchell's seminal album Blue, Taylor performed "California," while Cyndi Lauper led a group of artists through "Big Yellow Taxi."
Brandi Carlile, who has been instrumental to Mitchell's recent public appearances and performances, performed the title track of the songwriter's 2007 album Shine. Having joined her surprise performance at the Newport Folk Festival last July (which will soon see release as a live album), Carlile is set to be part of Mitchell's first headline show in over 20 years at the Gorge Amphitheatre in Quincy, WA, this June.
To close the evening, Mitchell sang George Gershwin's "Summertime" from Porgy & Bess, and her own "The Circle Game." Find performance footage and interviews from the night below via CBC News and the Associated Press.
Mitchell is the first Canadian to win the Gershwin Prize, which was established in 2007. Past honourees include Stevie Wonder, Paul McCartney, Carole King, Paul Simon, Smokey Robinson, Tony Bennett, Lionel Richie, Willie Nelson and Garth Brooks.
Last month, Mitchell's music found its way to a list of Exclaim! Staffers' Favourite Love Songs.
