“People that didn’t understand the situation wanted me to get out of the way and hear more of Joni”: Brandi Carlile was instrumental in bringing Joni Mitchell back on stage – but faced a lot of criticism for her efforts

(L-R) Joni Mitchell and Brandi Carlile perform onstage during the 66th GRAMMY Awards on February 04, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.

After Joni Mitchell's near-fatal brain aneurysm in 2015, it was unlikely she would ever sing and play guitar again. Fast forward to her surprise appearance at the Newport Folk Festival in 2022, and, on the brink of turning 80 – and after years of hard work to strengthen her voice and relearn guitar – Mitchell was well and truly back.

However, that performance was far from a last-minute affair. In 2017, Brandi Carlile took the initiative to organize “Joni Jams” at Mitchell’s home – monthly jam sessions that assisted her recovery and encouraged her to entertain the possibility of playing on stage again.