John Prine’s Wife Fiona Has the Coronavirus

photo: David McClister

Songwriting legend John Prine’s wife, Fiona Whelan Prine, has tested positive for the Coronavirus. Diagnosed late last week, she hasn’t been running a fever, but has been suffering from a cough and some breathlessness, and general fatigue. “I just don’t feel great at all, to put it mildly,” she said in a video she posted on social media on Tuesday, March 17th (see below).

“John however was also tested, and his came back indeterminate. There’s a chance he may not have this virus, and we are working really really hard to be really diligent about all the protocols,” Fiona assured. “We are quarantined completely. We are isolated from each other, from other members of the family. It’s hard, I won’t lie. But it’s absolutely important.”

At 73-years-old with underlying health conditions, John Prine definitely fits the profile of an individual who should be concerned about COVID-19. John Prine is a survivor of squamous cell Cancer, which he was diagnosed with in 1998. Then in 2013, Prine was diagnosed with Cancer in his left lung and underwent surgery to remove it.

Fiona Prine

Over the last couple of years, John Prine has cancelled numerous appearances due to health issues. “He’s definitely in that vulnerable population,” says Fiona Prine. “This would not be a good virus for him to get, or anyone.”

Though Fiona does not know exactly where she got the virus, she was traveling with John in Europe recently.

Fiona Prine moved to the United States over 25 years ago after meeting John in a studio in Dublin, Ireland. Soon they were married and raising three boys in Nashville. Fiona is also a major part of of John Prine’s label, Oh Boy Records, along with their son Jody Whelan. Fiona is also given credit for convincing John to record his 2016 album For Better or Worse where he sang duets with numerous women from country and roots music, including Kacey Musgraves, Miranda Lambert, Holly Williams, and others.

“I am fine. And I will recover,” Fiona Prine assures. “We all love John. And we all love musicians. They were the first ones off the block to cancel shows. I’m asking you to please stay at home. That’s all.”


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