Living In The Present With John Prine
We are thrilled to announce a new book about John Prine by New Orleans author Tom Piazza, which is available for pre-order now.
What began as a magazine assignment in the spring of 2018 became something far more meaningful for writer Tom Piazza and legendary singer-songwriter John Prine. Piazza climbed into Prine’s well-loved 1977 Coupe de Ville to accompany him on a Florida road trip for an article in Oxford American, setting the stage for a friendship that would grow into one of the defining relationships of Prine’s final years.
The trip itself reflected many of the qualities that made John Prine such a beloved figure. There were long drives and longer conversations, stories that drifted between memory and myth, unforgettable meals, and late nights spent with guitars in hand, trading songs and laughter. It was a world built around curiosity, humor, and connection — qualities that had long defined Prine both as a songwriter and as a person.
What started as a professional collaboration quickly evolved into a genuine friendship. Piazza and Prine continued spending time together after that first trip, traveling between their homes in Nashville and New Orleans and creating the kind of bond that develops through shared experiences and countless hours of conversation. During those visits, Piazza found himself welcomed into Prine’s world — not simply as a journalist documenting a subject, but as a trusted friend invited to sit close to the stories.
As their friendship deepened, Prine asked Piazza to work with him on a memoir. It became an opportunity for John to revisit the people and experiences that shaped his life and career. He shared sprawling and often hilarious memories of his youth and family in Chicago and Kentucky, stories of finding his voice as a songwriter, and recollections of his rise from postal worker to one of America’s most celebrated and influential musical storytellers.
Prine also revisited the wild and unforgettable years of Nashville’s early country music scene, recounting moments with the same humor and warmth that made audiences fall in love with his songs. His stories carried the same qualities found in his music — honesty, humor, compassion, and an appreciation for the extraordinary beauty hidden inside ordinary life.
But the memoir the two initially set out to create changed course after tragedy struck. When John Prine died unexpectedly from complications of COVID-19 in April 2020, the project was transformed. Rather than becoming a traditional autobiography, it evolved into something more intimate and deeply personal.
Through Piazza’s eyes, the unfinished memoir became a portrait of John Prine during the final chapter of his life. More than a chronicle of accomplishments, it offers readers a chance to see the man behind the music — a playful spirit, a master storyteller, a great American poet, and above all, a deeply loved friend whose legacy continues to resonate far beyond his songs.
Living In The Present With John Prine can be purchased here, and your purchase will directly support grantmaking in John Prine's memory.
