Joni Mitchell honoured with Gershwin Prize at star-studded gala

Alberta-born songstress Joni Mitchell headed up a procession of musical luminaries past and present Wednesday at a gala celebration of her latest lifetime achievement: the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song.

A roster of performers including Marcus Mumford, Annie Lennox, Cyndi Lauper and Brandi Carlile lit up the stage in tribute to Mitchell at DAR Constitution Hall, a historic venue just down the street from the White House.

Mitchell, 79, is the first Canadian and only the third woman to collect the prestigious accolade since it was established in 2007.

The stage was decorated with 12 enormous paintings framed by spotlights, some of them self-portraits of Mitchell herself.

Mitchell was seated in the front row in gold beret and sunglasses, her hair in braids.

Mumford kicked off the proceedings with Carey, from the seminal 1971 album Blue, long a fixture on all-time best-album lists all over the world.

"Tonight it's all about Joni," Mumford said by way of introduction. "Joni, it has been one of the great privileges of my life to get to play in your band, to play songs at your house. I love you very much."

Mitchell grinned and mouthed the lyrics along with Mumford throughout Carey.

Lennox took over with Both Sides, Now, from the sophomore 1969 effort Clouds. Her version brought the house down with a standing ovation. Even the musicians applauded her.

A handler helped Mitchell to her feet to join in the thunderous ovation.

Angelique Kidjo, the four-time Grammy winner from the West African country of Benin, then delivered her version of Help Me.

One musical highlight arrived midway through the set: Carlile, Kidjo, Lauper and Lennox teamed up with New Orleans jazz singer Ledisi and indie popsters Lucius for the iconic Mitchell song Big Yellow Taxi.

During the song, the crowd jumped to its feet and sang along, including Kirsten Hillman, Canada's ambassador to the U.S., one of countless dignitaries and U.S. lawmakers in the audience.

It ended with a flourish: all six singers went down to serenade Mitchell in the front row, with Carlile handing over her mic to let the guest of honour deliver the final part of her signature line: "They paved paradise/Put up a parking lot."