TMZ grabbed some legal papers filed yesterday in Los Angeles and decided Joni Mitchell was at death’s door. The papers were for a conservatorship, signed by a long time friend named Leslie Morris. What TMZ didn’t advertise was that Morris wrote into the papers that she anticipates that Joni won’t be able to appear in front of a judge for “four to six months.” Not forever. This is so far considered a temporary move.
Since then a message has been posted to Joni’s website: Sources with Joni in the hospital have approved the following statement to be made through JoniMitchell.com: “Contrary to rumors circulating on the Internet today, Joni is not in a coma. Joni is still in the hospital – but she comprehends, she’s alert, and she has her full senses. A full recovery is expected. The document obtained by a certain media outlet simply gives her longtime friend Leslie Morris the authority – in the absence of 24-hour doctor care – to make care decisions for Joni once she leaves the hospital. As we all know, Joni is a strong-willed woman and is nowhere near giving up the fight. Please continue to keep Joni in your thoughts.” You may add your well wishes for her at the website WeLoveYouJoni.com
Joni has been in the hospital for 25 days after collapsing at home and maybe hitting her head. There’s never been an official confirmation of what actually happened, or her diagnosis, just lots of speculation. The papers signed by Morris claim that Mitchell has no living relatives. But her fans know that Joni reconnected with the daughter she gave up for adoption some time ago. Her name is Kelly Dale Anderson. We may be hearing from her soon.
The world loves Joni Mitchell, a great artist and avowed curmudgeon. Let’s pray she just gets better and better until there’s more actual information.
