Rep Confirms Joni Mitchell Is Alive, False Death Report

The singer-songwriter is still alive and well, despite a news item that said Joni Mitchell had passed away that was published Friday morning and then removed.

According to a spokeswoman for Rhino, which collaborates with Mitchell on a continuing reissue series of her catalogue work, “I can assure all is okay so this was done in error,” the error was made.

The phoney article, which was published by People magazine and had obvious signs of a “pre-write” obituary that was mistakenly released, was the worst nightmare of every major news company. The title, “Joni Mitchell Dies at TK AGE,” appeared on the magazine’s website and in a tweet. “TK” in journalism is short for “to come.” Along with the tale itself, editorial remarks were included that outlined facts that needed to be filled in.

In fact, Mitchell has become more assured in recent public appearances after mainly shunning the spotlight following the burst of a brain aneurysm in 2015. Since that time, she has regained her mobility and started hosting events frequently at her home in central California, where “Joni jams” are a well-known and privileged tradition.

She walked the red carpet, talked to reporters, and added a few vocal lines to the jam to complete the all-star tribute before being honoured at the annual MusiCares Person of the Year luncheon in April. She sang and sang a lot more at a Brandi Carlile-led “Joni jam” at the Newport Folk Festival in July, taking lead vocals on many songs and even displaying her improved technical abilities on a guitar solo.

Mitchell has been actively involved in the Rhino Records reissue series, including a boxed set of her Asylum years recordings that recently came out, even though it is not anticipated that she will follow up on her comeback to live singing by coming out of recording retirement.

As a form of protest against the streaming giant for hosting Joe Rogan’s podcast and for allegedly “spreading false information about vaccines — potentially causing death to those who believe the disinformation being spread by them,” Mitchell made the request on Thursday in support of her longtime friend and business partner Neil Young.

All of Mitchell’s albums released through Warner Music Group — beginning with “Wild Things Run Fast” in 1982 and continuing for two more albums and a compilation from 1994 to 2000 — have been taken down, but all of her albums released through Universal Music Group are still accessible for streaming on the platform.