In a pre-Grammys tribute, generations sing to Joni Mitchell

Key Takeaways:

• An 81-year-old jazz legend and a 15-year-old rock singer were among the first to pay tribute to Joni Mitchell on Friday night.
• Lauper recited many of Mitchell's lines that moved her the most before starting on "Magdalene Laundry" while playing the mountain dulcimer.
• The MusiCares Person of the Year award recognizes philanthropy as well as inspirational artistic achievements.

On Friday night, an 81-year-old jazz legend and a 15-year-old rock singer were the first to pay tribute to Joni Mitchell.

Mitchell, a Canadian-turned-Californian folkie-turned-rocker-turned-jazz explorer, was acknowledged as the 2022 MusiCares Individual of the Year by the Recording Academy 2 days before the Grammy Awards, was honored by a diverse group of artists.

Violet Grohl, the daughter of Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl, launched the tribute show in a ballroom at the MGM Grand Las Vegas with a jazz piano cover version of music from Mitchell's 1976 album "Hejira," which was followed by Herbie Hancock performing a jazz piano rendition of Mitchell's 1976 album "Hejira."

Mitchell, who sat at the head of the table, brought out the adolescent in many of the older performers.

"I was 15 years old when I first heard Joni Mitchell in 1968," Cyndi Lauper, now 68, said. "I'd never heard anyone sing so candidly about what it was like to be a young lady trying to create her way in the world."

Before starting into "Magdalene Laundry" while playing the mountain dulcimer, Lauper recited many of Mitchell's lines that moved her the most.

In a video message shown for Mitchell and the audience, Meryl Streep said, "I don't know how you do what you do, but I just know I need it like food." "We've known each other since we were both young girls. We had never met before, but you sang me into existence. You sang my life."

Mitchell, 78, was overjoyed to be in Las Vegas and again at a major public event for the 1st time since the pandemic started, 7 years after a brain aneurysm left her temporarily unable to walk or speak.

As she entered the gala, she told The Associated Press, "I had the best margarita I've ever had at our hotel."

Mitchell will be a presenter at the Grammy Awards on Sunday, as well as a nominee for the best historical album. She claims she's always gravitated toward genres and categories that aren't featured on the Grammy telecast.

She said, "I usually win the behind-the-curtain awards with a laugh."

Mitchell, seated at a table with Hancock and director Cameron Crowe, was frequently moved to tears as a parade of artists praised her before performing covers of her songs.

"We live in the period of Joni Mitchell, and it shows tonight," said Brandi Carlile, who performed a quiet ballad version of "Woodstock" before the house band joined her for an electric guitar solo. Stephen Stills, who recreated the most famous version of the 1970 lyric with Crosby, Stills, Nash, as well as Young, joined her for an electric guitar solo.

Carlile, who is up for 5 Grammys on Sunday, as well as Jon Batiste, who is up for 11, has been named music directors for this year's MusiCares tribute, which will coordinate the artists and their approaches to Mitchell's difficult, genre-bending songs.

Carlile told the Associated Press, "We helped shepherd artists to their Joni songs, the ones that their souls connected to." "This isn't a piece of music for the faint of heart. This is complex, brilliant music that is extremely difficult to comprehend."

"Preparing for this show, I feel like I've been in Joni school," Beck said before performing one of that esoteric music, "The Jungle Line" from 1975's "The Hissing of the Summer Lawns."

As the crowd of 2,400 finished their spinning dessert, an edible Grammy trophy on a turntable, John Legend gave a surprise achievement, singing as well as playing solo piano on Mitchell's "River" on a spinning stage in the middle of the room.

Mitchell gave a brief acceptance speech near the concert's end, saying, "Everybody was splendid; it just kept getting better and better." "I can now retire and leave everything to others."

But she made it very obvious that she wasn't finished yet.

Most of the night's performers returned to the stage for a sing-along of "The Circle Game" and "Big Yellow Taxi," which Carlile and Batiste led.

Mitchell eventually made her way up to the microphone to join them, delivering the song's famous baritone ending.

She sang, "Put up a parking lot," to laughter and whoops from the audience.

The MusiCares Person of the Year award is given out for a combination of inspirational artistic achievements and philanthropy. The gala that gives it out raises money for MusiCares, the Recording Academy charity that helps musicians in need with health and welfare.

Quincy Jones, Stevie Wonder, Elton John, Bruce Springsteen, Aretha Franklin, Dolly Parton, and Aerosmith are past honorees.