Naomi Weisman is a Canadian, Australian, and mother of three, who loves to Ramble with her dog, cook for family and friends, and laugh whenever possible.
The leading player on the soundtrack of my life is John Prine — singer-songwriter, Americana folk legend, and my virtual best friend. I’ve also listened to Bonnie Raitt for decades, so I love that John and Bonnie were best pals.
They started their careers around the same time and often moved in the same circles. Bonnie deeply admired John’s storytelling, and one of his early songs, Angel From Montgomery, became one of her signature hits and helped launch her career.
Last November, my partner and I went on a road trip. We had a few things on our itinerary — Nashville, visiting friends in Florida — but the real inspiration for our journey was a concert: Bonnie Raitt was playing in Birmingham, Alabama. I’d originally had tickets to see her with my sister in Toronto, but the pandemic canceled those plans, which was crushing. So, we went south from Nashville to Birmingham to finally see Bonnie live for the first time.
As you can imagine, it was a wonderful evening. Between songs, Bonnie told stories, and her warmth and wit shone through. She sang old favorites and new songs alike — her voice as soulful and strong as ever.
Her song Just Like That went on to win Song of the Year at the 2023 Grammy Awards — a surprise to some, since she was up against megastars like Beyoncé, Adele, Taylor Swift, Harry Styles, and Lizzo. Americana folk rarely gets that kind of spotlight on mainstream radio, but this song absolutely deserved it.
When I listen to Just Like That, I’m transported. It’s full of raw emotion — a masterclass in storytelling, the kind of song that defines the Americana genre. It tells of a woman visited by a man who comes to thank her for donating her late son’s organs, allowing him to live. It’s haunting, redemptive, and deeply moving.
During her Grammy acceptance speech, Bonnie thanked her dear friend John Prine — who passed away from COVID-19 in April 2020 — for inspiring her songwriting. That moment was the icing on the cake for me.
This one gets a massive thumbs-up. I hope you love the song as much as I do.
Let me know what you think in the comments.
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Wow, Gwen! What a lovely message. You have put a smile on my face, and I am 100% sure that if Bonnie Raitt knew the story of your grandson, she would be so pleased to know that her song touched you in this way!
Thank you for sharing this post about Bonnie Rait and her song Just Like That. I read it and listened to her song while waiting for the ferry to take me home from Salt Spring Island on Thanksgiving weekend in Canada. It brought tears to my eyes as I felt gratitude toward the generous person who gave my little grandson a piece of her liver when he was needing a transplant. He’s seven years old this year and brings us all so much joy. Beautiful song. Thank you for sharing. Maybe it was just for me.
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