Joni Mitchell unable to speak following 'traumatic brain injury'
Mitchell, 71, was hospitalised in Los Angeles on 31 March after being found unconscious at her home
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Guitarist and singer David Crosby has revealed that Joni Mitchell is unable to speak after suffering from a "traumatic brain injury".
Singer-songwriter Mitchelll, 71, was hospitalised in Los Angeles on 31 March after being found unconscious at her home. Previous reports suggest that Mitchell suffered a brain aneurysm and remains in hospital.
In an interview with the Huffington Post esteemed folk singer Crosby revealed more about Mitchell’s on-going ill health. He said: “Nobody found [Mitchell] for a while. She took a terrible hit. To my knowledge she is not speaking yet... She's going to have to struggle back from it the way you struggle back from a traumatic brain injury... She's a tough girl, and very smart. So, how much she's going to come back and when, I don't know and I'm not going to guess.”
“I love her,” he continued. “She's probably the best of us - probably the greatest living singer-songwriter. I think we’re all holding our breath and thinking a good thought, hoping that it’s going to turn out OK.”
The last official update on Mitchell’s health was posted to her website on 28 April , where representatives denied reports that Mitchell was in a coma but confirmed that she was still in hospital and “she comprehends, she’s alert, and she has her full senses. A full recovery is expected.”
Mitchell has not released any new material since her 2007 album Shine and has not toured since the late 1990s.
Mitchell has said that she suffers from a rare condition called Morgellons disease. In the book, Joni Mitchell: In Her Own Words, she has said of the disease: “Morgellons is constantly morphing. There are times when it's directly attacking the nervous system, as if you're being bitten by fleas and lice. It's all in the tissue and it's not a hallucination. It was eating me alive, sucking the juices out. I've been sick all my life.”
Crosby has been close to Mitchell since the 1960s. Both were predominant figures on the 60s and 70s Californian music scene along with Crosby’s musical collaborators Stephen Stills, Graham Nash and Neil Young.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments