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sheshe2

(98,340 posts)
Tue May 12, 2026, 07:01 PM 4 hrs ago

Joan Baez has announced her retirement from the stage at the age of 85.

Joan Baez has announced her retirement from the stage at the age of 85. “This is not just the end of my career.
It’s the final chapter of an entire era — an era of idealism, of protest, of songs that dared to challenge power and awaken hearts.

Charles Keener (@charleskeener.bsky.social) 2026-05-12T21:38:15.839Z




Thank you for everything.
58 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Joan Baez has announced her retirement from the stage at the age of 85. (Original Post) sheshe2 4 hrs ago OP
Thank you Joan malaise 4 hrs ago #1
a fave Joan track and a great Dylan cover..... msongs 4 hrs ago #2
She is such a gift PatSeg 4 hrs ago #3
Thank you Joan. I dreamed I saw Joe Hill last night. Botany 4 hrs ago #4
. Sparkly 4 hrs ago #5
Joan Baez and MLK, Jr. in my home town when they integrated my HS in 1966. walkingman 4 hrs ago #6
Thank you for that picture, walkingman! sheshe2 4 hrs ago #12
Saw her in Boston. Magnificent Joinfortmill 4 hrs ago #7
I saw her on the main stage at Glastonbury in 1984, where I was stood right up front Emrys 4 hrs ago #8
The first Joan Baez album I added to my collection was... QueerDuck 4 hrs ago #9
I had that one too. sheshe2 4 hrs ago #14
Me too - - her songs said what we felt. Talitha 2 hrs ago #41
Exactly, Talitha. sheshe2 2 hrs ago #42
*Sigh* A lump in my throat - There But For Fortune NBachers 4 hrs ago #10
She had an incredible voice. sheshe2 4 hrs ago #15
Great choice. yorkster 3 hrs ago #30
"It's the final chapter of an entire era -- an era of idealism, of protest, of songs that dared to challenge power sop 4 hrs ago #11
Hard to accept BeneteauBum 3 hrs ago #36
We need Joan now, more than ever GenThePerservering 4 hrs ago #13
She still took the time to stand with Justin Jones in Nashville last week Tanuki 4 hrs ago #16
That was beautiful, Tanuki. sheshe2 4 hrs ago #19
Wonderful malaise 4 hrs ago #24
Joan Baez essentially passed to baton to Jesse Wells when they performed together recently Brother Buzz 4 hrs ago #17
Wonder videos! sheshe2 4 hrs ago #22
Thank you. Those were gifts to my soul. Botany 2 hrs ago #46
The second video was six months ago Brother Buzz 1 hr ago #54
Respect ❤️ Admiration ❤️ Love FakeNoose 4 hrs ago #18
Thank you Joan Dave Id 4 hrs ago #20
That voice BaronChocula 4 hrs ago #21
Thank you, Joan Niagara 4 hrs ago #23
I echo everyone else. Thank you, Joan; not just for your music but for showing LoisB 4 hrs ago #25
I got to see her in concert in Europe back in the 1980s. COL Mustard 3 hrs ago #26
My favorite...as tears come to my eyes.... allegorical oracle 3 hrs ago #27
Here you go! sheshe2 3 hrs ago #28
Thank you. That is the most romantic song in the world imho.... allegorical oracle 3 hrs ago #33
A well deserved exit from the public stage. I never met Joan, though I have FailureToCommunicate 3 hrs ago #29
That is pretty cool, meeting her whole family... sheshe2 3 hrs ago #32
Yes. But she has been a constant part of my life thru her music. FailureToCommunicate 1 hr ago #55
Saw here fairly often in Chapel Hill, etc. Then at the vigil out of the Castro in 78 unc70 3 hrs ago #31
Bravo Joan Starbeach 3 hrs ago #34
What a talent! It is amazing that she has been strong brer cat 3 hrs ago #35
She performed publicly for over 60 years! sheshe2 2 hrs ago #47
Miles to go before you (we) sleep, Joan swong19104 3 hrs ago #37
Joan singing one of Bobby's best.. WheelWalker 3 hrs ago #38
My favorite time seeing her was when she sang "Okie from Muskogee" with Merle Haggard, Kris Kristofferson & John Prine deurbano 3 hrs ago #39
Lucky you! sheshe2 2 hrs ago #48
This message was self-deleted by its author deurbano 3 hrs ago #40
Thank you, Joan. Talitha 2 hrs ago #43
She did a large amount of good in the world.🌹 Figarosmom 2 hrs ago #44
I wish her luck tavernier 2 hrs ago #45
Wow. Kablooie 2 hrs ago #49
Thank you, Joan! calimary 2 hrs ago #50
It was demolishing the Voting Rights Act KT2000 2 hrs ago #51
Ty, Joan, for your exceptional gift of song! SheltieLover 1 hr ago #52
She has earned it. I love her. She's one of those people... CousinIT 1 hr ago #53
I saw her at the Newport Folk Festival..63? 64? mountain grammy 1 hr ago #56
I listen to Joan Every day! MerryBlooms 56 min ago #57
I saw her at Pete Seeger's 90th birthday concert. . . DinahMoeHum 51 min ago #58

walkingman

(11,130 posts)
6. Joan Baez and MLK, Jr. in my home town when they integrated my HS in 1966.
Tue May 12, 2026, 07:14 PM
4 hrs ago

for anyone that ever doubts how nasty white people can be, I saw some of my neighbors show their true colors. This was a small town and everybody knew everybody.

Sadly, we continue to fight these same battles 60 years later. ☮

Emrys

(9,203 posts)
8. I saw her on the main stage at Glastonbury in 1984, where I was stood right up front
Tue May 12, 2026, 07:23 PM
4 hrs ago

As she sang, the power and depth of her voice and its and her beauty had me in floods of tears, maybe partly because her music was an important part of my childhood as my brother and sister were around ten years older than me, and no doubt partly because I was absolutely off my face.

sheshe2

(98,340 posts)
14. I had that one too.
Tue May 12, 2026, 07:43 PM
4 hrs ago

Back in the day, I played the guitar and sang many of her songs. 🫶❤️

sop

(19,202 posts)
11. "It's the final chapter of an entire era -- an era of idealism, of protest, of songs that dared to challenge power
Tue May 12, 2026, 07:35 PM
4 hrs ago

and awaken hearts." Doesn't sound very hopeful for the future. Sadly, I think she's right.

Tanuki

(16,498 posts)
16. She still took the time to stand with Justin Jones in Nashville last week
Tue May 12, 2026, 07:45 PM
4 hrs ago

and lend her voice to the fight against racist redistricting, voter suppression, and White supremacy.

https://www.instagram.com/brotherjones_/reel/DX8GOrthNwU/?hl=en

Brother Buzz

(40,360 posts)
17. Joan Baez essentially passed to baton to Jesse Wells when they performed together recently
Tue May 12, 2026, 07:49 PM
4 hrs ago
?si=prZWABdaMq7lq-2r
?si=8-hD_5pFiRlT67Uc

Botany

(77,796 posts)
46. Thank you. Those were gifts to my soul.
Tue May 12, 2026, 09:38 PM
2 hrs ago

The top video was less than 2 months ago. Joan had a life well lived.

Brother Buzz

(40,360 posts)
54. The second video was six months ago
Tue May 12, 2026, 10:14 PM
1 hr ago

Folk legend Joan Baez made a surprise appearance at Jesse Welles’ sold-out show at The Fillmore in San Francisco on November 4, 2025, performing a duet of his protest song "No Kings" and the Dylan classic "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right". This collaboration served as a symbolic "passing of the torch".

Jesse made the sojourn from Arkansas to Joan Baez’ backyard with his patented smile and a bounce in his step and let the magic happen.

FakeNoose

(42,291 posts)
18. Respect ❤️ Admiration ❤️ Love
Tue May 12, 2026, 07:50 PM
4 hrs ago

Thank you Joan Baez! One of the greatest folk singers ever - with the voice of an angel!!!

Dave Id

(325 posts)
20. Thank you Joan
Tue May 12, 2026, 07:51 PM
4 hrs ago

for all of you gifts in your activism and beautiful voice. You are cherished in our hearts.

BaronChocula

(4,709 posts)
21. That voice
Tue May 12, 2026, 07:52 PM
4 hrs ago

I'll even sing along to "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down." But it's ok. It was written by a Canadian.

LoisB

(13,387 posts)
25. I echo everyone else. Thank you, Joan; not just for your music but for showing
Tue May 12, 2026, 07:55 PM
4 hrs ago

up against injustices for so many years.

COL Mustard

(8,364 posts)
26. I got to see her in concert in Europe back in the 1980s.
Tue May 12, 2026, 08:03 PM
3 hrs ago

Damn glad I did. She has been an amazing force for almost my entire life.

I love you Joan!

FailureToCommunicate

(14,619 posts)
29. A well deserved exit from the public stage. I never met Joan, though I have
Tue May 12, 2026, 08:17 PM
3 hrs ago

seen her perform countless times. I did get to meet her sisters and brother in law and her delightful parents. What a terrific loving family. No wonder she has always been on the correct side of civil rights, and justice, and not afraid to sing about it!

sheshe2

(98,340 posts)
32. That is pretty cool, meeting her whole family...
Tue May 12, 2026, 08:25 PM
3 hrs ago

even though you missed out on meeting Joan.

unc70

(6,513 posts)
31. Saw here fairly often in Chapel Hill, etc. Then at the vigil out of the Castro in 78
Tue May 12, 2026, 08:23 PM
3 hrs ago

She sang at the candlelight vigil from The Castro for Milk and Moscone back in 1978 in San Francisco. We were all so young.

swong19104

(658 posts)
37. Miles to go before you (we) sleep, Joan
Tue May 12, 2026, 08:48 PM
3 hrs ago

A few days ago, I was chatting with some 30-somethings and I mentioned Arlo Guthrie’s Alice’s Restaurant. They never heard it or of it. I really wonder how many of the folk songs of the 60s and 70s are being listened by the younger generations.

I was also at a nightclub (of sorts) and the band was playing American standards like Route 66, Spanish Eyes, etc. Then they played CCR’s Have You Ever Seen The Rain. CCR among the standards??

deurbano

(3,008 posts)
39. My favorite time seeing her was when she sang "Okie from Muskogee" with Merle Haggard, Kris Kristofferson & John Prine
Tue May 12, 2026, 08:52 PM
3 hrs ago

in 2010 at the Mountain Winery in Saratoga, CA. Kristofferson (one of my all-time faves) opened for Haggard (one of my all-time faves), and Kris came back out to sing/play with Haggard at the end... and then (in a huge surprise), John (one of my all-rime faves) and Joan (one of my all-time faves) joined them! Not sure there was anyone alive at that moment I wanted to see more than the four of them....or anywhere I would rather have been! (And I had seen them all separately several times.) Transplendent!

I saw Joan at a benefit tribute (to her) concert at the Masonic Auditorium in San Francisco (with other amazing legends) last year, and then at a No Kings rally in SF last fall. She has always been (and continues to be) an inspiration!

https://www.kqed.org/arts/13971571/joan-baez-review-masonic-san-francisco-sweet-relief

Response to sheshe2 (Original post)

tavernier

(14,501 posts)
45. I wish her luck
Tue May 12, 2026, 09:36 PM
2 hrs ago

But I’m still singing and protesting and carrying on. It’s not over,
And so say my kids and grandkids.

calimary

(90,673 posts)
50. Thank you, Joan!
Tue May 12, 2026, 09:58 PM
2 hrs ago

You’ve been such an inspiration over the years!

And you’re only retiring. That means you’re still here! I take great comfort in that.

KT2000

(22,205 posts)
51. It was demolishing the Voting Rights Act
Tue May 12, 2026, 09:59 PM
2 hrs ago

that did it. The hard work - and she did work hard - and now watching those successes being dismantled. Her heart is broken. I am sad about this.
So many gave so much back when it was cool to be better people instead of the garbage dwellers we are surrounded by now.

CousinIT

(12,732 posts)
53. She has earned it. I love her. She's one of those people...
Tue May 12, 2026, 10:09 PM
1 hr ago

….I want to wrap in bubble wrap and put her on a high shelf so I can keep her safe forever. Of course no one lives that long.

Here she is singing “Nasty Man”. You can guess who it’s about. She’s a jewel of a human being.

?si=E23vFN8UH3rN4iwD

mountain grammy

(29,177 posts)
56. I saw her at the Newport Folk Festival..63? 64?
Tue May 12, 2026, 10:55 PM
1 hr ago

it started to rain while the Paul Butterfield band was playing and they were plugged in so they had to stop..

Joan came out and did a couple of songs, no power.. acoustic guitar and her voice. She's a small woman and she was dancing around the stage soaking wet. We had seats when she played. We watched Dylan from the parking lot.

DinahMoeHum

(23,669 posts)
58. I saw her at Pete Seeger's 90th birthday concert. . .
Tue May 12, 2026, 11:09 PM
51 min ago

in Madison Square Garden,NY; leading the audience in "Jacob's Ladder"

Before that, I saw her in 2009 at the 50th anniversary of the Newport Folk Festival.

She did "Diamonds And Rust" as a duet with Judy Collins.

Her performance had me feel like my feet were firmly screwed to the ground and my skin prickled with goose bumps.

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