By Lisa Richwine
LAS VEGAS (Reuters) – Singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell thrilled a Las Vegas audience on Friday by taking the stage during a rare public appearance to sing along with an all-star lineup of musicians who paid tribute to her pioneering career.
Artists from John Legend to Cyndi Lauper, Beck, Billy Porter, Mickey Guyton and Brandi Carlile performed favorite selections from Mitchell’s catalog at the annual MusiCares fundraising gala before the Grammys.
After nearly three hours of heartfelt speeches and performances, Mitchell stood on the stage in an MGM Grand ballroom somewhat speechless.
“It’s a very special evening. I don’t know what else to say. I don’t want to say I was honored. That’s obvious,” she said.
“I was very impressed with the quality talent that was here tonight,” she added. “Everything was splendid.”
Mitchell then joined several of the night’s performers to sing along to two songs, “The Circle Game” and “Big Yellow Taxi.”
The Canadian-born musician, 78, has kept a low profile since suffering a brain aneurysm in 2015 that left her unable to speak or walk. On Friday, she walked with the assistance of a cane, which she tapped along to the music.
MusiCares, the charitable arm of the Recording Academy, raises funds to help musicians struggling with health and other issues. The group said it honored Mitchell as its person of the year because of her creative work, philanthropy and resilience.
The “A Case of You” musician is regarded as one of the most influential singer-songwriters of the 1970s and is known for albums including “Clouds,” “Ladies of the Canyon” and “Blue.”
With songs such as “Chelsea Morning” and “River,” she broke into an industry previously dominated by men and sold millions of albums.
Lauper recalled first hearing Mitchell’s music when she was 15. “I had never heard anyone singing so intimately about what it was like to be a young woman navigating through this world,” Lauper said.
Actress Meryl Streep, who appeared via video, said Mitchell “sang me into the woman I am.”
Porter, who sang a slow, soulful version of “Both Sides, Now,” called Mitchell “a movement all by herself.”
Mitchell was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997. She is scheduled to present an award at Sunday’s Grammys ceremony.
Other musicians or musical groups recently honored by MusiCares include Aerosmith, Fleetwood Mac and Dolly Parton.
(Reporting by Lisa Richwine; Editing by Alison Williams)
