You’d never reach the end of a list of artists that cite John Prine as an inspiration. His legacy knows no bounds—especially for those in the Nashville set. April 7 marks the third anniversary of Prine’s 2020 death due to COVID-19 complications.
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In the three years since, the music community has delivered a handful of tribute concerts to the late, great songwriter. While it’s always a treat to get to hear Prine’s music live again, perhaps the greatest testament to his legacy is the music his followers have made in his same spirit. Check out a list of artists that have expressed their love for Prine and the albums we think are their most Prine-esque.
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1. Pageant Material – Kacey Musgraves
Kacey Musgraves has long expressed her love for Prine. “If I can sing it like Lee Ann Womack would and say it like John would, then I feel like I’ve gotten somewhere,” she once said. In her early Nashville days, Musgraves even penned a fun little tune titled “Burn One With John Prine,” which she later sang to the man himself.
Being a folky country artist herself, it’s easy to make a comparison between Musgraves’ music and Prine’s, but their real connector lies beneath the surface: intimate storytelling with an affinity for tongue-in-cheek lyricism. That is best showcased in her sophomore album, Pageant Material. “Good Ol’ Boys Club” has the same rebellious spirit that Prine exhibits in songs like “Sweet Revenge” or “Your Flag Decal Won’t Get You into Heaven Anymore.” Elsewhere, she aims to get back to life’s simple pleasures in “High Time” a la Prine’s “Spanish Pipedream.”
2. Speed, Sound, Lonely KV (EP) – Kurt Vile
Kurt Vile’s love of Prine manifested in a duet, released in 2020. The EP, named after Prine’s “Speed of the Sound of Loneliness,” saw Vile collaborate with a number of artists, including Pat McLaughlin, Kenny Malone, Dan Auerbach, and, of course, Prine. On top of covering the album’s namesake, Vile duets with Prine on “How Lucky.”
Apparently, the feeling of admiration was mutual. “Prine really liked Kurt,” said producer Dave Ferguson. “Every son of a bitch wanted Prine to come in and sing a song with him, but he really did like Kurt. Kurt’s got that same kind of slant on him that Prine does, it’s fucking high art, man. And Prine was totally into that.”
3. Stranger in the Alps – Phoebe Bridgers
Bridgers once said that Prine “represents the pinnacle of American music.” For her contribution to Spotify’s Singles series, Bridgers delivered a sad-girl version of Prine’s 2018 release, “Summer’s End.” Though Bridgers’ music doesn’t live in the same world as Prine’s, her storytelling makes it clear that she is a Prine-acolyte.
Her first full-length record, Stranger in the Alps, puts a spotlight on her storytelling. Though they hold little semblance to Prine’s folky standards, songs like “Smoke Signals” and “You Missed My Heart” are meditative narratives that see Bridgers fly past her peers in the alt-pop world. Like Prine, she’s inspired offshoots of artists that aim to recreate the magic she finds innate.
4. By The Way, I Forgive You – Brandi Carlile
Brandi Carlile knew Prine well. The pair played together during Prine’s last appearance on The Late Show and Carlile has covered many Prine songs since his death. Like the late songwriter, Carlile deals in heartwrenching lyrics and simple folk melodies. While any of her offerings could be inspired by Prine, By The Way, I Forgive You makes this list.
Tracks like “The Mother” and “Every Time I Hear That Song” are simple songs packed full of hard-won truths. They call to mind Prine songs like “Angel From Montgomery” and “Souvenirs.”
5. Purgatory – Tyler Childers
Tyler Childers once said, “I’ve spent a lot of time admiring John Prine and his way with words… it doesn’t have to be big $100 dollar words to put you right there and be like, ‘Oh, I know that dude.'” Like Prine, Childers wants to create songs that move people. “The problem with country is we’ve turned the props into the play,” Childers once said. “Let’s not just Solo cup and pickup truck it to death. Let’s handle this in a smart way. Nobody is thinking about lyrical content, or how we’re moving people, or what’s going on in the background of their minds.”
[RELATED: 10 John Prine Lyrics That Prove No One Writes The Way He Did]
That sentiment can be felt throughout Childers’ 2017 album, Purgatory. Childers doesn’t mince any words on the record, digging deep into his own psyche and looking outward at the world. While Prine is the undisputed king of holding a mirror up to the world with unflinching honesty, Childers does him proud with his efforts.
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