The late John Prine, a revered singer-songwriter from the Chicago folk music scene, won two posthumous Grammys on Sunday for his last recorded song, “I Remember Everything,” a song about loss and memory.
The awards, in the American roots categories, were for best performance and (with Pat McLaughlin) best song.
The Maywood native died in April at the age of 73 of complications due to COVID-19. His wife, Fiona Whelan, told reporters during a virtual press conference on Sunday that the song spoke to the importance of memories and really connected with people this past year.
“John had a way of pointing out the most simple everyday things that sometimes we overlook,” said Whelan.
They were the third and fourth competitive Grammys for Prine, who wrote songs including “Angel from Montgomery” and “Sam Stone. He also received a lifetime achievement award last year.
“I feel John’s presence today very strongly,” said Whelan.
A longtime Prine admirer, Brandi Carlile, paid tribute to him by singing “I Remember Everything” on Sunday’s Grammy telecast, before a sparse, socially distanced live audience.
“I think that in the past performing in front of an audience is the only thing that matters to me,” Carlile said before the ceremony. “But this time I’m just performing for John Prine. It’s just for John, and I know he’s there.”
