CBS aired a music-filled special on Sunday, December 29, titled Grammy Greats: The Most Memorable Moments. As it's title implies, the show looked at various performance highlights that took place over the years at the Grammy Awards ceremony.

One of those memorable moments was the emotional performance by Joni Mitchell that took place this past February during the 2024 Grammy ceremony. This marked the first time that the legendary 81-year-old Canadian singer-songwriter ever performed on the Grammys.

Mitchell performed a serene version of her 1960s folk-rock classic "Both Sides Now," accompanied by her pal Brandi Carlile, along with Allison Russell, Jacob Collier, SistaStrings, Lucius, and Blake Mills.

In an interview segment on the special, Joni explained why she chose to perform "Both Sides Now" at the Grammy ceremony.

"[U]sually when I'm in a deal like that, I play the thing that I've most recently written, which is all that interests me," she noted. "[Since I'd never been on the Grammys before,] I decided to play what's appeared to be people's favorite song."

On Mitchell's Road to Performing on the Grammy

The special also delved into the back story of what led up to Mitchell's Grammy performance. In 2015, Joni suffered a brain aneurysm that resulted in major health issues, including hampering her ability to speak and walk. Even before the aneurysm, Mitchell had stopped performing and recording music.

As she recuperated, Mitchell began hosting gatherings at her home that were organized by singer/songwriter Brandi Carlile, and featured various musicians singing tunes for and with Joni. These get-togethers came to be known as "Joni Jams," and helped Mitchell in her recovery. It also inspired her to want to perform again.

Mitchell made her full-fledged return to the stage in July 2022 during a surprise appearance at the Newport Folk Festival. Carlile had been scheduled to perform with unspecified "friends," but she wound up presenting a recreation of one of the "Joni Jams" that Mitchell had been hosting. Mitchell played a 13-song set accompanied by various guest musicians and singers.

"Brandi has been like my ambassador," Mitchell noted on the special. "[I]t was her idea that I play Newport, not mine. You know, she just kind of was the driving force behind me."

Since the 2022 Newport performance, Mitchell has played several other "Joni Jams"-style concerts with Carlile and other guest artists. Mitchell's Grammy performance also was presented in a similar fashion.

Carlile and Mitchell on the "Joni Jams" Gatherings

Carlile also appeared on the CBS special to discuss her collaborations with Mitchell.

"Well, I've been working with and hanging out with and drinking with Joni Mitchell for a long time," she noted. "About five or six years now, ever since we started doing the 'Joni Jams' at her house. And everybody's been hearing about that, probably 'cause I'm always talking about it all the time, and bragging on it. I can't help it. It's been such a transformative thing in my life, to get to ... literally study at the feet of a master like that, and play guitar and drink wine in her living room with all of my friends."

Mitchell added, "It's a party, you know. It's an old-fashioned kind of party ... It's a good get-together. You know, a jam. It's really a joyous occasion. And you know, they put up with me when we started. I was still coming back from my aneurysm, you know. I was weak. I hadn't sung for a long time. It was part of my healing."

Mitchell on How She's Feeling Now

The segment ended with Mitchell poignantly sharing how she's feeling now, while expressing her passion for living.

"Life is miraculous. Delicious," she said with a smile. "Yeah, it's good to be here. I'm lucky to be here. I was comatose for a while. You know, I had to learn to walk again. I had to learn so many things again. I feel blessed."