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

[sheshe2]

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.

[malaise]

1. Thank you Joan

[msongs]

2. a fave Joan track and a great Dylan cover.....

?si=KWq_B7p74H2yUWNW

[PatSeg]

3. She is such a gift

[Botany]

4. Thank you Joan. I dreamed I saw Joe Hill last night.

[Sparkly]

5. .

[walkingman]

6. Joan Baez and MLK, Jr. in my home town when they integrated my HS in 1966.

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. ☮

[sheshe2]

12. Thank you for that picture, walkingman!

[Joinfortmill]

7. Saw her in Boston. Magnificent

[sheshe2]

60. Her family moved to Belmont MA in 1958

Belmont and Cambridge were the launchpad for her career!

At the time, Joan was a theater major at Boston University, but she quickly became drawn to the folk music scene in Cambridge. The Harvard Square coffeehouses and local clubs offered a vibrant acoustic community, and she soon realized she was better suited to performing than to formal education The Music Museum of New England+1. She left BU after only about six weeks, deciding to focus on music The Music Museum of New England.

Baez began playing at Club 47 in Cambridge, a venue that was originally a jazz club but became a hub for the emerging folk revival. She was one of the first folk singers to perform there, and her clear soprano voice and heartfelt renditions of folk classics quickly earned her a reputation The Music Museum of New England+1. By her late teens, she was a regular headliner at these shows.

Her breakthrough came in 1959 when Bob Gibson invited her to perform at the Newport Folk Festival in Rhode Island, cementing her status as a rising star at age 18 History Cambridge+1. This performance helped launch her into national prominence, leading to a record deal with Vanguard Records in 1960.

In summary, Joan Baez’s time in Massachusetts—particularly in Belmont and Cambridge—was the launchpad for her career. The city’s folk music scene, Club 47, and the Newport Folk Festival all played pivotal roles in shaping her into one of America’s most influential folk artists and activists.

https://www.bing.com/search?q=Joan%20Baez%20lived%20in%20MA&qs=n&form=QBRE&sp=-1&lq=0&pq=joan%20baez%20lived%20in%20ma&sc=0-21&sk=&cvid=C597AB9019E5423586D2F36FBB85A9AA

[Emrys]

8. I saw her on the main stage at Glastonbury in 1984, where I was stood right up front

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.

[QueerDuck]

9. The first Joan Baez album I added to my collection was...

Diamonds and Rust.

[sheshe2]

14. I had that one too.

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

[Talitha]

41. Me too - - her songs said what we felt.

[sheshe2]

42. Exactly, Talitha.

[NBachers]

10. *Sigh* A lump in my throat - There But For Fortune

&list=RDb6omDSxTCXE&start_radio=1

[sheshe2]

15. She had an incredible voice.

[yorkster]

30. Great choice.

[sop]

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

[BeneteauBum]

36. Hard to accept

Incumbent on us to move forward…….

Peace ☮️

[GenThePerservering]

13. We need Joan now, more than ever

I hope she continues to speak out.

[Tanuki]

16. She still took the time to stand with Justin Jones in Nashville last week

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

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

[sheshe2]

19. That was beautiful, Tanuki.

Thank you.

[malaise]

24. Wonderful

Rec

[Brother Buzz]

17. Joan Baez essentially passed to baton to Jesse Wells when they performed together recently

?si=prZWABdaMq7lq-2r

?si=8-hD_5pFiRlT67Uc

[sheshe2]

22. Wonder videos!

Thank you, Brother Buzz.

Beautiful.

[Botany]

46. Thank you. Those were gifts to my soul.

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

[Brother Buzz]

54. The second video was six months 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]

18. Respect ❤️ Admiration ❤️ Love

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

[Dave Id]

20. Thank you Joan

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

[BaronChocula]

21. That voice

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

[Niagara]

23. Thank you, Joan

[LoisB]

25. I echo everyone else. Thank you, Joan; not just for your music but for showing

up against injustices for so many years.

[COL Mustard]

26. I got to see her in concert in Europe back in the 1980s.

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

I love you Joan!

[allegorical oracle]

27. My favorite...as tears come to my eyes....

hhttps://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/relatedvideo?q=the+joy+of+love+by+joan+baez&&mid=E2C68D3A49824E0B419EE2C68D3A49824E0B419E&churl=https%3a%2f%2fwww.youtube.com%2fchannel%2fUCUI-2j14GePK4T58wA52qtw&FORM=VRDGAR

[sheshe2]

28. Here you go!

Thank you, that was incredibly moving.

[allegorical oracle]

33. Thank you. That is the most romantic song in the world imho....

[FailureToCommunicate]

29. A well deserved exit from the public stage. I never met Joan, though I have

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]

32. That is pretty cool, meeting her whole family...

even though you missed out on meeting Joan.

[FailureToCommunicate]

55. Yes. But she has been a constant part of my life thru her music.

[unc70]

31. Saw here fairly often in Chapel Hill, etc. Then at the vigil out of the Castro in 78

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

[Starbeach]

34. Bravo Joan

Thank you for staying true all these years.

[brer cat]

35. What a talent! It is amazing that she has been strong

for so long.

[sheshe2]

47. She performed publicly for over 60 years!

I so wish I had seen her.

[swong19104]

37. Miles to go before you (we) sleep, Joan

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??

[WheelWalker]

38. Joan singing one of Bobby's best..

?si=BDJklPJy1sMCDPs_

[deurbano]

39. My favorite time seeing her was when she sang "Okie from Muskogee" with Merle Haggard, Kris Kristofferson & John Prine

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

[sheshe2]

48. Lucky you!

That must have been amazing to see. She is an inspiration to us all.

[Talitha]

43. Thank you, Joan.

For everything. Thank you.

[Figarosmom]

44. She did a large amount of good in the world.🌹

[tavernier]

45. I wish her luck

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

[Kablooie]

49. Wow.

To keep going up to 85 is amazing. Hope I can do that.

[calimary]

50. Thank you, Joan!

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]

51. It was demolishing the Voting Rights Act

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.

[SheltieLover]

52. Ty, Joan, for your exceptional gift of song!

[CousinIT]

53. She has earned it. I love her. She's one of those people...

….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]

56. I saw her at the Newport Folk Festival..63? 64?

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.

[MerryBlooms]

57. I listen to Joan Every day!

I just listened to 4 songs... Be well, shining light.

[DinahMoeHum]

58. I saw her at Pete Seeger's 90th birthday concert. . .

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.

[Devilsun]

59. What an amazing woman!!!

[chowmama]

61. St. Paul No Kings in March. nt

[mnhtnbb]

62. My husband and I met Joan Baez

when we joined a cruise in 2012 sponsored by The Nation magazine. She performed at a private concert for the group one night, and allowed us to take photos before she started singing.



Another evening, a reception was held in her honor and we got to chat with her a bit. Both she and my husband grew up in Palo Alto.
Amazing woman with a unique voice.

[OldBaldy1701E]

63. "It's the final chapter of an entire era."

Yes.

Too bad we decided to squander that era.

That is the part that really sucks as far as I am concerned.

[surfered]

64. Diamonds and Rust

[GiqueCee]

65. Joan was - and is - great...

... and her sister, Mimi, was married to Richard Fariña, a songwriter and author who died tragically in a motorcycle accident on the night of a party celebrating the publication of his book, Been Down So Long It Looks Like Up To Me. Mimi played autoharp to Richard's guitar, and one of their better known songs was Pack Up Your Sorrows.

[heckles65]

66. Farewell Joan

and well done

[Wild blueberry]

67. Thank you for everything

And thank you, DUers who posted so many gorgeous songs.
Thank you.

[Martin68]

68. An American cultural and artistic Treasure.