The 2024 Gershwin Prize ceremony was taped last month at Washington, DC’s DAR Revolution Hall and aired Monday night (4/8) on PBS. This year’s award was given to Elton John and his songwriting parter Bernie Taupin, and among those performing his songs on stage was last year’s Gershwin Prize recipient, Joni Mitchell, who covered Elton’s 1983 smash “I’m Still Standing.”
Brandi Carlile introduced Joni, saying that the song has special meaning to Mitchell. “So much so,” Carlile noted, “that she’s been given the green light to change some of Elton and Bernie’s lyrics to fit her, which honestly is the most Joni Mitchell thing I think I’ve ever heard of.” Carlile then joined Joni for her cover, as did Annie Lennox and Blake Mills, as Elton and Bernie watched in the front row. Watch video of that below.
The ceremony also featured appearances from Paul McCartney, Metallica, Garth Brooks, Carole King, Stevie Wonder, and more. You can watch the whole special on PBS’ website.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfOAgYhW1II