The songwriter John Prine has been hospitalized for COVID-19 symptoms and “his situation is critical,” according to a statement from the Prine family.
Prine, 73, was admitted to a hospital on Thursday last week, and was put on a ventilator Saturday evening, the statement reads.
Prine’s wife, Fiona, announced that she had tested positive for the coronavirus on March 17. At the time, John’s test had come back “inconclusive.”
Read the statement from the family below.
Prine’s hospitalization comes four days after fellow songwriter Jackson Browne tested positive for the coronavirus. Earlier on Sunday, country singer Joe Diffie died due to coronavirus symptoms.
Prine’s latest album, released in 2018, is The Tree of Forgiveness. “I think everybody needs a little forgiveness, I would think,” Prine told KQED at the time. “And I think the person who’s hardest to forgive is probably yourself.”
Prine underwent hip surgery in February, and remarked that he was “looking forward to being back on the road,” a reference to his near-constant tour schedule.
Prine has also won two previous bouts with cancer: once in 1998 for throat cancer, and once in 2013 for lung cancer.
Prine and wife Fiona reside in Nashville.
[Update, March 30: On Monday, Fiona Prine reported that she has recovered from her coronavirus symptoms. In a tweet, she added: “We are humbled by the outpouring of love for me and John and our precious family. He is stable. Please continue to send your amazing love and prayers. Sing his songs. Stay home and wash hands. John loves you. I love you.”]
