John Prine died Tuesday (April 7) at 73 years old from complications of COVID-19. The death comes just a few weeks after his family revealed his diagnosis.
The Songwriters Hall of Famer has landed 15 albums on the Billboard 200 chart since his self-titled debut arrived in February 1971 and has worked with fellow legends like Kris Kristofferson, Bob Dylan and "Cowboy" Jack Clement.
His songs, including "Sam Stone," "Hello in There," "Paradise" and more have been admired and covered by countless artists, so it's no surprise that the music world stormed social media to mourn the loss of a songwriting great. ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons sent this statement to Billboard on Wednesday (April 8): “We were saddened to learn of John Prine’s passing, the loss of a true American treasure. He was admired both for his art and for his sheer humanity. He had a nobility that radiated liked a million watt radio station just across the border. We last crossed paths at the Memphis Music Hall of Fame ceremony where he inducted Cowboy Jack Clement and we got to do the honors for Roy Orbison. We greeted each other warmly and I vividly recall passing a most pleasant time with the genuine article. Never to be forgotten.”
See more reactions to the tragic news below.
