Joni Mitchell, the legendary Canadian-American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and painter, recently stunned her many fans with a surprise performance.
Joni, who is now 81 years old, gloriously proved that age is just a number and has had no effect on her incredible stage presence, as she delivered a mouthwatering and captivating performance at the FireAid Benefit Concert on Thursday night.
During her performance, Joni Mitchell exuded pure grace and elegance as she sat in a plush gold chair, singing into a golden microphone, moving the audience to tears with her heartfelt rendition of “Both Sides Now”.
The 81-year-old graced the stage dressed in a flowing brown draped dress, paired with a matching hat, a cane, and her signature sunglasses.
The veteran singer has made only a few stage appearances in recent years, with her most recent performance at the 2024 Hollywood Bowl in October earning a standing ovation from the star-studded audience.
Her 1969 classic was a poignant choice for the emotional event, which aimed to raise funds for those affected by the devastating Los Angeles wildfires in January.
The evening began when the event was opened by legendary comedian Billy Crystal, who shared his heartbreak over losing his own home in the blaze.
He said: “These are the clothes I wore as I fled my house with my wife Janice. I stepped to the ground, and I fell to my knees. I had not cried like that since I was 15 years old, and my father had just died.”
The night then kicked off musically with an electrifying performance by the legendary Green Day, who teamed up with pop sensation Billie Eilish for a heartfelt duet of “Last Night on Earth”. This was night’s first performance.
Frontman Billie Joe Armstrong declared: “We’re still alive, this is California, and we’re all in this together. From the bottom of our hearts, we love you, Los Angeles, and we’ve got your back no matter what.”
Throughout the event, powerful performances were interwoven with emotional stories from those directly impacted by the wildfires, including a Los Angeles firefighter who gave a firsthand account of the battle on the front lines.
The night was filled with unforgettable moments, including Alanis Morissette delivering powerful performances of her iconic hits Hand in My Pocket and Thank U.
Later, Pink took the stage with a stirring rendition of What About Us, pausing to express her love and support for the people of Los Angeles.
She said: “If you’re hurting, I’m hurting with you. My heart is with you. I’m going to keep my feet on the ground tonight. And I’m going to sing a couple of songs that bring me comfort. And I hope that they do the same for you all.”
A host of celebrities showed up to support the special event, including Jessica Alba, Samuel L. Jackson, Rod Stewart, and Dr. Dre. In a generous act of solidarity, U2 donated $1 million to fire relief efforts.
All proceeds from the concert will go directly toward recovery efforts and initiatives aimed at preventing future disasters.
The star-studded lineup also includes performances from Lady Gaga, Olivia Rodrigo, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Stevie Nicks, Jelly Roll, Sting, and John Mayer.
The event was held across two major venues, with performances taking place at both the Kia Forum in Inglewood and the Intuit Dome.
