At ‘Songwriters Salute John Prine’ at Wolf Trap in Virginia, Emmylou Harris, Margo Price, Allison Russell and Others Make the Case for Prine as America’s Poet Laureate
Article excerpt
At Wolf Trap in Virginia, a lineup including Emmylou Harris, Margo Price, and Allison Russell gathered to honor John Prine, making the case for the late singer-songwriter as America's poet laureate. The tribute event emerged as an alternative to what organizers viewed as less worthy representations of American character during the nation's semiquincentennial celebration. The performances underscored Prine's enduring influence on country and Americana music, with artists drawing from his catalog of deeply personal, socially conscious songs that captured distinctly American voices and experiences.