Joni Mitchell surprises attendees at the Newport Folk Festival

He played a full set on Sunday for the first time in nearly 20 years at the renowned festival in Rhode Island. It was Joni Mitchell's first performance with a guitar in approximately 20 years at Newport Folk Festival on Sunday, which surprised a Rhode Island audience.

Because of a brain aneurysm in 2015, Mitchell has stayed out of the spotlight for most of the past two years. She made brief public appearances during her recovery: she accepted the Kennedy Center Honor in December, appeared on the Grammys in April, and was honored at MusiCares in May.

The 78-year-old singer wore a beret and sunglasses while singing songs like “Carey,” "Big Yellow Taxi” and “Both Sides Now.”A short solo performed over Mitchell's shoulder during "Just Like This Train" lasted several minutes.

During Mitchell's festival appearance, Brandi Carlile sang backup, and she wrote on Twitter, "I'll never forget sitting next to her for a while as she stopped the old world."Mitchell emerged from the storm like a prophet, because she had "viewed life from such a variety of angles."

Although Mitchell has slowed down her appearances in recent years, she has made headlines nonetheless. Mitchell also boycotted Spotify, which he claims spreads misinformation about the Covid-19 vaccine, in solidarity with Neil Young's boycott. According to Mitchell, "Irresponsible people spread lies that cause people to lose their lives.". Mitchell added, "I support Neil Young and the global scientific and medical community on this issue."

As part of Mitchell's Sunday performance, Carlile sang alongside her. Carlile later wrote on Twitter, "I am unable to watch it without crying." Please forgive me if I have offended you." The Case of You" starts with Mitchell singing, one of the songs on Mitchell and Carlile's influential "Blue" album, released over 50 years ago.