Singer-songwriter John Prine has been diagnosed with an operable form of lung cancer, the Associated Press reports.
Prine, 67, confirmed the news on his website, adding, “I’ve been diagnosed with non-small cell carcinoma of the lung. Doctors here in Nashville have caught it early, and it is operable. They see no reason why I won’t fully recover.”
He’ll undergo surgery next month, forcing the postponement of two upcoming tour dates in Louisville. However, he still intends to play shows in Greensboro, NC on December 6th and Charlotte, NC on December 7th.
Emerging from Chicago’s folk scene in the 1960s, Prince is widely considered one of the most influential songwriters of the last half century. In 2010, he was honored with a tribute album featuring the likes of My Morning Jacket, Bon Iver, Conor Oberst, Lambchop, and more. Below, watch footage of him performing alongside MMJ’s Jim James on Late Show with David Letterman.