Joni Mitchell's Condition Now Improving Following Hospitalization
Joni Mitchell, 71, the iconic Rock and Roll Hall of Famer singer-songwriter, "continues to improve and get stronger each day" following her hospitalization on March 31st according to a statement released this Friday on her official website.
"Joni remains under observation in the hospital and is resting comfortably," it says on the site. "We are encouraged by her progress and she continues to improve and get stronger each day. We've created a simple web page to aggregate Facebook and Twitter messages so that Joni can see all the well wishes people are sending her way, check it out!"
Mitchell was found unconscious in her home on the afternoon of March 31st and was taken to a nearby Los Angeles hospital. According to TMZ, her condition then has been described as "quite serious." The TMZ news was later confirmed by a tweet to The Hollywood Reporter from Mitchell's official website: "Joni has been hospitalized. We are awaiting official word on her condition and will post it here as soon as we know." Hours later, her website has been updated, saying: "Joni was found unconscious in her home this afternoon. She regained consciousness on the ambulance ride to an L.A. area hospital. She is currently in intensive care undergoing tests and is awake and in good spirits. More updates to come as we hear them. Light a candle and sing a song, let's all send good wishes her way." But to date, the exact nature of her illness has not yet been disclosed.
Mitchell, has had a long history of health problems, surviving polio and scarlet fever as a child. She also suffers from a non-medically recognized disease called "Morgellons Syndrome," a condition that causes people to experience a crawling and biting sensation to the skin. Moreover, she has been an inveterate smoker since age nine.
A winner of eight Grammy awards, Mitchell is best known for her hits Big Yellow Taxi, Clouds, Help Me, Court and Spark, Turbulent Indigo, Sex Kills, The Sire of Sorrow, Both Sides Now, Chelsea Morning, Woodstock and You Turn Me On, I'm a Radio. She received Billboard's Century Award in 1995 and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997. She received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2002, with the citation describing her as "one of the most important female recording artists of the rock era... a powerful influence on all artists who embrace diversity, imagination and integrity."
Mitchell's work has had an influence on many other artists, including Prince, Elvis Costello, George Michael, Madonna, Sheryl Crow, Morissey, Seal, Beck, Cassandra Wilson, Diana Krall, Madonna and Taylor Swift.