You Got Gold: A Celebtration of John Prine
What’s it rated? Not rated
When? 2025
Where’s it showing? The Palm Theatre in SLO on Dec. 20 (4 p.m.) and Dec. 21 (1 p.m.)
Michael John Warren (Shrek the Musical) directed this concert documentary shot over two nights in Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium in October 2022, two years after Prine’s death at 73. A mix of up-and-coming and top-tier performers cover Prine’s iconic material—or in some cases, such as Lucinda Williams and Kasey Musgrave, perform original songs inspired by their relationship with Prine.
The documentary paints a portrait of an incredibly talented artist and absolute character, and the film is interspersed with archival footage of Prine himself as well as contemporary interviews by those he in some way touched.
It’s stirring to hear people like Tyler Childers, Brandi Carlile, The War and Treaty, and Jason Isbell sing Prine’s songs and speak with such reverence for the man. Valerie June and Nathaniel Rateliff sang one of my favorites, “In Spite of Ourselves,” and Kurt Vile’s version of “How Lucky” was amazing, as was I’m With Her’s version of “Unwed Fathers.”
The doc is filled with emotional moments like Bonnie Raitt talking about “Angel from Montgomery,” which she sang with Brandi Carlile to absolutely devastating effect. If you’re a Prine fan, it’s essential viewing. If you’re not, you will be after watching this documentary. He’s undeniably one of the greats. (90 min.)
—Glen Starkey
This article appears in Dec 18 – Dec 25, 2025.