That’s Dr. Joni to you: Mitchell’s renaissance revs up with honorary Berklee doctorate

Joni Mitchell, seen at the Newport Folk Festival last month, received an honorary doctorate from Berklee College of Music.
Joni Mitchell, seen on the Newport People Competition final month, acquired an honorary doctorate from Berklee School of Music.
(Adam Kissick / Newport Festivals Basis)

Joni Mitchell is a Grammy winner, Kennedy Middle Honors recipient and now? A health care provider.

On Tuesday, the beloved singer-songwriter’s renaissance picked up much more pace when Berklee School of Music awarded Mitchell an honorary doctorate.

Berklee President Erica Muhl lauded the 78-year-old musician for “blazing the path for girls in music with an unwavering dedication” and dubbed her “one of many world’s biggest musical artists.”

“Properly, fortunately I’m too previous to get a swelled head,” Mitchell joked in her acceptance speech.

Mitchell — who wore a black beret embroidered with “Dr. Joni Mitchell” — was feted at a non-public celebration in Santa Monica.

Attendees included fellow music greats Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter and a tribute efficiency by Terri Lyne Carrington.

Only one factor was lacking. Mitchell stated she wished that her dad and mom have been nonetheless alive and will have been there to see it.

“My mom particularly can be actually pleased with this as a result of she needed me to go to varsity,” she stated. “I went to artwork college and I stop after a 12 months.

“She thinks of me as a quitter. So to see this achievement can be actually spectacular to her. I want I may share it together with her.”

Mitchell is the most recent legend to just accept an honorary doctorate from Berklee. Latest recipients have included Ringo Starr, Celine Dion, John legend and the Neptunes’ Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo.

The Berklee honor caps an already momentous summer time for Mitchell. On the Newport People Competition in July, she gave her first public efficiency since her mind aneurysm in 2015. She took the stage alongside Brandi Carlile, Wynonna Judd, Marcus Mumford and others to carry out a set of hits together with “Carey,” “The Circle Sport” and “Assist Me.”

The uncommon look sparked a spread of feelings from each festival-goers and fellow musicians. Judd stated she was “ugly-crying” by the efficiency.

“Joni was the soundtrack of my childhood — she’s my hero — and Brandi invited me to return and be a witness to her unbelievable journey,” she instructed The Occasions.

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