The wife of celebrated singer-songwriter John Prine said she was able to sit with her husband in the last hours of his life. Prine died Tuesday at 73 from complications of COVID-19.
Fiona Whelan Prine said in a statement Wednesday (April 8) that “in spite of the incredible skill and care of his medical team at Vanderbilt he could not overcome the damage this virus inflicted on his body. I sat with John – who was deeply sedated – in the hours before he passed and will be forever grateful for that opportunity.”
Fiona Prine, who also contracted the coronavirus and has since recovered, thanked everyone for the outpouring of love from fans all over the world. She also implored people of all ages to take the virus seriously and follow guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “John will be so missed but he will continue to comfort us with his words and music and the gifts of kindness, humor and love he left for all of us to share,” Whelan Prine wrote via Facebook.
Revered for his wise and witty lyrics, he is known for songs like “Angel from Montgomery,” “Sam Stone,” “Hello in There” and scores of other quirky original tunes.
The coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms for most people, but it can cause more severe illness, especially for older adults and people with existing health problems.
Prine had survived throat and lung cancer, continuing to record and perform despite those illnesses.
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