The Story Behind The Song That Delivered Bonnie Raitt’s Surprise Grammy Win

There was Lizzo’s “About Damn Time.” There was Harry Styles’ “As It Was.” There was Adele’s “Easy On Me,” and entries from Beyonce, Taylor Swift, Steve Lacy, Kendrick Lamar and DJ Khaled.

But in the end, it was “Just Like That,” a quiet, contemplative song written and performed by Bonnie Raitt that took home Song of the Year in the most shocking moment of the 65^th Grammys.

One of our greatest Americana and blues singers and guitarists, at 73 Raitt has picked up her share of trophies throughout the years. Still, no one was more surprised than she was to win the award for her song dedicated to her beloved friend and collaborator John Prine, who died in April 2020, and inspired by a story she saw on the news about an organ donor that encapsulated for her the pain and perseverance of the past several years.

“I feel that people’s hearts have been broken and they’ve been so discouraged and anxious, at least I have been,” Raitt told reporters backstage after her win.

“I saw this story on the news of this woman that had met the man who had her son’s heart and said, ‘Would you like to listen to it? Sit next to me and put your head on my chest.’ Because things have been so tough the last few years, I just broke open and was just inspired,” she said.

“And we lost John Prine, and I wanted to write a song about what it feels like to tell the good news stories. It’s a heart wrenching-story but a heart-warming story about grace and redemption, And God knows we need some stories like that right now.”

Raitt said given the “massively talented, great tunes that represented tremendous excitement of the public” with which “Just Like That” was in the running, she felt particularly proud that her “little record” struck a chord. “I’m was so glad to be nominated, and I was very surprised… but holding up our end of the American roots and my generation—that made me very proud,” she said.

“To be 73 years old and get Song of the Year for my songwriting when I’m barely a songwriter is just… after five decades. I’m so lucky to do this for a living, and my fans are so loyal and the Academy has been so great to me. The Grammys, the association of my peers have been over and over so kind to me. I’m pinching myself. It’s a wonderful thing.”