Joni Mitchell launches a three-word attack on Trump during a rare live appearance

Joni Mitchell unleashed a brief but pointed attack on Donald Trump during her first Los Angeles show in 28 years.

The legendary singer-songwriter, 80, performed at the Hollywood Bowl on October 19th and 20th, where she was accompanied by a rotating cast of backing band members – known as Joni Jam – that included Brandi Carlile, Annie Lennox, Marcus Mumford and Allison Russell, Robin Recknold and Rita Wilson from the Fleet Foxes.

Together, the group performed a number of songs Mitchell hadn’t played in years in a 27-track setlist that included “Big Yellow Taxi,” “California,” “A Case of You,” “Both Sides, Now.” ” and “Both Sides, Now” included a cover of Elton John’s “I’m Still Standing.”

Mitchell previously covered the Elton John/Bernie Taupin standard when the songwriting duo was honored with the Library of Congress’s prestigious Gershwin Prize.

After a performance of “Dog Eat Dog” on Saturday (October 19), an audience member apparently shouted a dissident against Trump.

billboard reported that Mitchell responded, “‘F*** Donald Trump,’ I love that song.” She later added, “I wish I could vote… I’m Canadian. I’m one of those lousy immigrants.”

Carlile said in his address to the 17,000-strong audience that “serving Joni’s ambitions is probably one of the proudest moments of our lives tonight.” L.A. Times.

Mitchell’s return to live performances comes after she suffered a brain aneurysm in 2015, which left her temporarily unable to speak or walk.

After years of staying away from the public eye, she stunned the world in 2022 when she returned unannounced to the stage at the Newport Folk Festival, followed by an official headlining performance last June at the Gorge Amphitheater in Washington.

During her first Hollywood Bowl show, Carlile revealed that the Joni Jams, which initially took place in Mitchell’s living room “five or six years ago,” had helped the veteran artist heal.

Friends and fellow musicians initially came to Mitchell and sang their own songs to her – later she began harmonizing and singing along from her sofa.

Mitchell said she was “honored” to have Carlile as a friend and praised her for bringing her out of “retirement.”

As Trump continues his campaign for U.S. president, he has come under fire from several high-profile artists.

The Republican candidate was recalled last week by Canadian folk artist Rufus Wainwright after he performed his cover of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” during a chaotic town hall event.

Wainwright, whose version of “Hallelujah” was released in 2001 as part of the soundtrack for the animated film ShrekHe called the song an “anthem dedicated to peace, love and acceptance of the truth.” It has been a great honor for me over the years to be associated with this ode to tolerance.”

“Witnessing Trump and his supporters communicating with this music last night was the height of blasphemy,” he said.

Elsewhere over the weekend, the daughter of late golf legend Arnold Palmer responded to vulgar comments made by Trump about her father.