The best musicians over 70 who are still performing

Many young and popular musicians take the center stage when it comes to selling out venues. However, many artists who have been around for decades have managed to retain their popularity, performing all around the world. Often referred to as legends in their field, many will stop at nothing to see them, as nobody knows when they will retire or stop touring.

Joni Mitchell performed non-stop for thirty years, so when she took a step back from the stage, no one could blame her! The Canadian icon last gave a full concert in 2002, which many believed to be her last. The 78-year-old had only made short appearances since then, which is why attendees at the Newport Folk Festival in Rhode Island got the shock of their lives when she appeared on stage. Mitchell gave fans a surprise 13-song set alongside Brandi Carlile and several other musicians, singing classics like 'Amelia' and 'Why Do Fools Fall in Love.'

After the show, CBS asked Mitchell if she felt nervous about performing in front of an audience again. She replied, "No, I've never been nervous about being in front of an audience. But I want it to be good. And I wasn't sure I could be. But I didn't sound too bad tonight!" No one can argue with that. Mitchell's still got it!

What is clear is that these musicians have a great love for what they do, which explains why they have yet to retire. Take a look through the gallery of the best singers over 70 still performing!

0 / 31 Fotos

Paul McCartney - Born in 1942, Paul McCartney is one of the most famous musicians in the world. The Beatles member continues to perform solo.

1 / 31 Fotos

Steven Tyler - Born in 1948, Steven Tyler is the lead singer of Aerosmith, who formed in 1970. The immensely popular artists are America's best-selling rock band.

2 / 31 Fotos

Shirley Bassey - Born in 1937, Shirley Bassey is most well-known for singing several James Bond theme songs in the 1960s and 1970s, such as 'Goldfinger' and 'Moonraker.'

3 / 31 Fotos

Elton John - Born in 1947, Elton John is one of the most famous and best-selling artists of all time. He is currently in the middle of a farewell tour, which consists of over 300 concerts.

4 / 31 Fotos

Tom Jones - Born in 1940, Tom Jones has been famous since the early 1960s. Still performing, he has also played a large part in the TV show 'The Voice' in recent years.

5 / 31 Fotos

Dolly Parton - Born in 1946, Dolly Parton is perhaps the most famous country singer of all time. The spunky artist is best known for the songs 'Jolene' and '9 to 5.'

6 / 31 Fotos

Ozzy Osbourne - Born in 1948, Ozzy Osbourne has perhaps become more famous for his persona and his reality TV show than his music. He does, however, continue to sing to this day!

7 / 31 Fotos

Cher - Born in 1946, Cher is one of the most prolific and best-selling artists of all time. She frequently sells out her highly extravagant tours, and even has a residency in Vegas!

8 / 31 Fotos

Mick Jagger - Born in 1943, Mick Jagger is the lead singer of The Rolling Stones. They finished up their No Filter Tour in 2019.

9 / 31 Fotos

Paul Simon - Born in 1941, Paul Simon was one half of the duo Simon & Garfunkel. In 1970, the duo split up (though they were still hugely popular), and Simon has performed solo since.

10 / 31 Fotos

Neil Young -

Born in 1945, Neil Young has been singing for nearly sixty years. A former member of Buffalo Springfield, he has had most success with his solo career.

11 / 31 Fotos

Barbra Streisand - Born in 1942, Barbra Streisand is one of the best-selling musicians of all time. She continues to perform, and has also acted in and directed films, such as 'A Star is Born.'

12 / 31 Fotos

Van Morrison - Born in 1945, Van Morrison began his career over sixty years ago. He is most famous for the 1960s song 'Brown Eyed Girl.' He continues to perform to this day.

13 / 31 Fotos

Debbie Harry - Born in 1945, Debbie Harry is the lead singer of Blondie. Originally formed in the 1970s, they are most famous for 'Heart of Glass' and 'The Tide is High.'

14 / 31 Fotos

Eric Clapton - Born in 1945, Eric Clapton is a former member of both The Yardbirds and Cream. He still performs solo all over the world, and is one of the best-selling artists of all time.

15 / 31 Fotos

Roger Waters - Born in 1943, Roger Waters was one of the founding members of Pink Floyd. He has discussed a potential 2020 tour.

16 / 31 Fotos

Iggy Pop - Born in 1947, Iggy Pop was the lead singer of The Stooges. He has also performed solo since the 1970s, and covered many different genres of music in that period.

17 / 31 Fotos

Grace Jones - Born in 1948, Grace Jones is famous for her outlandish appearance and performances. She has also acted in several films, including the James Bond movie, 'A View to a Kill.'

18 / 31 Fotos

Art Garfunkel - Born in 1941, Art Garfunkel was the other half of the duo Simon & Garfunkel. His solo work since 1970 has been prolific, and he has been a singer for over sixty years.

19 / 31 Fotos

Roger Daltrey - Born in 1944, Roger Daltrey is the lead singer and a founding member of The Who. Formed in 1964, they continue to perform to this day.

20 / 31 Fotos

Diana Ross - Born in 1944, Diana Ross began her musical career as the lead singer of The Supremes, who were one of the most successful female group in US history.

21 / 31 Fotos

David Gilmour - Born in 1946, David Gilmour was a member of Pink Floyd. He now performs solo, and is also involved with many causes, such as environmentalism.

22 / 31 Fotos

Rod Stewart - Born in 1945, Rod Stewart has been performing for almost sixty years. He has sold over 120 million records and is still immensely popular.

23 / 31 Fotos

Lulu - Born in 1948, Lulu's fame was at its height when she was very young, in the 1960s. Her version of the song 'Shout' was highly successful.

24 / 31 Fotos

Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens) - Born in 1948, Yusuf Islam has had a varied and prolific career in music. He had a hiatus from music due to a religious conversion, but returned to performing in 2006.

25 / 31 Fotos

Cliff Richard - Born in 1940, Cliff Richard has sold in excess of 250 million records. With a career lasting over sixty years, he has only been surpassed in UK record sales by Elvis Presley and The Beatles.

26 / 31 Fotos

Ringo Starr - Born in 1940, Ringo Starr was the drummer for The Beatles. He continues to perform, and has a tour in 2020 with his All Starr band.

27 / 31 Fotos

Willie Nelson - Born in 1933 (making him 86!), Willie Nelson has a career that has lasted for over sixty years. His musical style is country, and he is also very famous for being an activist for marijuana legalization.

28 / 31 Fotos

Kim Carnes - Born in 1945, Kim Carnes is most famous for her version of the song 'Bette Davis Eyes.' She has performed for over half a century.

29 / 31 Fotos

Barry Manilow -

Born in 1943, Barry Manilow has been singing for over half a century. He is one of the best-selling artists of all time and had a Las Vegas residency as recently as 2021.

30 / 31 Fotos

The best musicians over 70 who are still performing -

What is clear is that these musicians have a great love for what they do, which explains why they have yet to retire. Take a look through the gallery of the best singers over 70 still performing!

Getty Images

0 / 31 Fotos

Paul McCartney - Born in 1942, Paul McCartney is one of the most famous musicians in the world. The Beatles member continues to perform solo.

1 / 31 Fotos

Steven Tyler - Born in 1948, Steven Tyler is the lead singer of Aerosmith, who formed in 1970. The immensely popular artists are America's best-selling rock band.

2 / 31 Fotos

Shirley Bassey - Born in 1937, Shirley Bassey is most well-known for singing several James Bond theme songs in the 1960s and 1970s, such as 'Goldfinger' and 'Moonraker.'

3 / 31 Fotos

Elton John - Born in 1947, Elton John is one of the most famous and best-selling artists of all time. He is currently in the middle of a farewell tour, which consists of over 300 concerts.

4 / 31 Fotos

Tom Jones - Born in 1940, Tom Jones has been famous since the early 1960s. Still performing, he has also played a large part in the TV show 'The Voice' in recent years.

5 / 31 Fotos

Dolly Parton - Born in 1946, Dolly Parton is perhaps the most famous country singer of all time. The spunky artist is best known for the songs 'Jolene' and '9 to 5.'

6 / 31 Fotos

Ozzy Osbourne - Born in 1948, Ozzy Osbourne has perhaps become more famous for his persona and his reality TV show than his music. He does, however, continue to sing to this day!

7 / 31 Fotos

Cher - Born in 1946, Cher is one of the most prolific and best-selling artists of all time. She frequently sells out her highly extravagant tours, and even has a residency in Vegas!

8 / 31 Fotos

Mick Jagger - Born in 1943, Mick Jagger is the lead singer of The Rolling Stones. They finished up their No Filter Tour in 2019.

9 / 31 Fotos

Paul Simon - Born in 1941, Paul Simon was one half of the duo Simon & Garfunkel. In 1970, the duo split up (though they were still hugely popular), and Simon has performed solo since.

10 / 31 Fotos

Neil Young -

Born in 1945, Neil Young has been singing for nearly sixty years. A former member of Buffalo Springfield, he has had most success with his solo career.

11 / 31 Fotos

Barbra Streisand - Born in 1942, Barbra Streisand is one of the best-selling musicians of all time. She continues to perform, and has also acted in and directed films, such as 'A Star is Born.'

12 / 31 Fotos

Van Morrison - Born in 1945, Van Morrison began his career over sixty years ago. He is most famous for the 1960s song 'Brown Eyed Girl.' He continues to perform to this day.

13 / 31 Fotos

Debbie Harry - Born in 1945, Debbie Harry is the lead singer of Blondie. Originally formed in the 1970s, they are most famous for 'Heart of Glass' and 'The Tide is High.'

14 / 31 Fotos

Eric Clapton - Born in 1945, Eric Clapton is a former member of both The Yardbirds and Cream. He still performs solo all over the world, and is one of the best-selling artists of all time.

15 / 31 Fotos

Roger Waters - Born in 1943, Roger Waters was one of the founding members of Pink Floyd. He has discussed a potential 2020 tour.

16 / 31 Fotos

Iggy Pop - Born in 1947, Iggy Pop was the lead singer of The Stooges. He has also performed solo since the 1970s, and covered many different genres of music in that period.

17 / 31 Fotos

Grace Jones - Born in 1948, Grace Jones is famous for her outlandish appearance and performances. She has also acted in several films, including the James Bond movie, 'A View to a Kill.'

18 / 31 Fotos

Art Garfunkel - Born in 1941, Art Garfunkel was the other half of the duo Simon & Garfunkel. His solo work since 1970 has been prolific, and he has been a singer for over sixty years.

19 / 31 Fotos

Roger Daltrey - Born in 1944, Roger Daltrey is the lead singer and a founding member of The Who. Formed in 1964, they continue to perform to this day.

20 / 31 Fotos

Diana Ross - Born in 1944, Diana Ross began her musical career as the lead singer of The Supremes, who were one of the most successful female group in US history.

21 / 31 Fotos

David Gilmour - Born in 1946, David Gilmour was a member of Pink Floyd. He now performs solo, and is also involved with many causes, such as environmentalism.

22 / 31 Fotos

Rod Stewart - Born in 1945, Rod Stewart has been performing for almost sixty years. He has sold over 120 million records and is still immensely popular.

23 / 31 Fotos

Lulu - Born in 1948, Lulu's fame was at its height when she was very young, in the 1960s. Her version of the song 'Shout' was highly successful.

24 / 31 Fotos

Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens) - Born in 1948, Yusuf Islam has had a varied and prolific career in music. He had a hiatus from music due to a religious conversion, but returned to performing in 2006.

25 / 31 Fotos

26 / 31 Fotos

Ringo Starr - Born in 1940, Ringo Starr was the drummer for The Beatles. He continues to perform, and has a tour in 2020 with his All Starr band.

27 / 31 Fotos

28 / 31 Fotos

Kim Carnes - Born in 1945, Kim Carnes is most famous for her version of the song 'Bette Davis Eyes.' She has performed for over half a century.

29 / 31 Fotos

Barry Manilow -

Born in 1943, Barry Manilow has been singing for over half a century. He is one of the best-selling artists of all time and had a Las Vegas residency as recently as 2021.

30 / 31 Fotos

The best musicians over 70 who are still performing

Joni Mitchell gives first full live performance in 20 years at Newport Folk Festival

26/07/22 | StarsInsider

MUSIC Tours

Many young and popular musicians take center stage when it comes to selling out venues. However, many artists who have been around for decades have managed to retain their popularity, performing all around the world. Often referred to as legends in their field, many will stop at nothing to see them, as nobody knows when they will retire or stop touring.

Joni Mitchell performed non-stop for thirty years, so when she took a step back from the stage, no one could blame her! The Canadian icon last did a full concert in 2002, and many believed she would never do another. The 78-year-old had only made short appearances since then, which is why attendees at the Newport Folk Festival in Rhode Island got the shock of their lives when she appeared on stage. Mitchell gave fans a surprise 13-song set alongside Brandi Carlile and several other musicians, singing classics like 'Amelia' and 'Why Do Fools Fall in Love.'

What is clear is that these musicians have a great love for what they do, which explains why they have yet to retire. Take a look through the gallery of the best singers over 70 still performing!