Dwight Yoakam, Margo Price, Ashley McBryde and more pay tribute to John Prine ahead of Grammys – USA TODAY

LOS ANGELES — John Prine walked up the sidewalk and into the front door of the famed Troubadour just like the more than 20 singers and the sold-out crowd that was there to pay tribute to him on Saturday night.

The Americana Music Association presented the Americana Pre-GRAMMY Salute to John Prine — an evening of music comprised of nearly three hours of songs penned by one of America’s greatest living songwriters.

Prine watched from a bench along the wall of the balcony as artists, including Grammy-nominated Margo Price and Bob Weir, three-fifths of Punch Brothers, Ashley McBryde, Boz Skaggs, John Paul White formerly of The Civil Wars, Bettye Lavette, Milk Carton Kids, Dwight Yoakam and more, spent the night singing his songs back to him.

“I think he never did the expected thing and he always had his own way of writing and it was quirky and it was funny and it was dark,” Price explained. “I remember finding a cassette tape of ‘The Missing Years’ and from that moment on, I was just hooked. It’s good to meet a writer that writes from his heart. He doesn’t write for anyone else. He writes songs that he knows are good.”

The evening’s highlights included Mary Gauthier who enticed the audience to sing along with Prine’s mournful “Speed of the Sound of Loneliness.”

“I have no idea what I’d be doing if it wasn’t for John Prine,” Gauthier said. “I’m the three chords and the truth crowd, and John Prine showed us that was a (fine) way to be.”

Bolstered by their acoustic guitars, the distinct harmonies of Milk Carton Kids on “Storm Windows” echoed through the intimate club that’s aesthetically defined by wood paneling, hanging lanterns and a glowing blue neon sign advertising the bar’s name that hangs over the stage.

Lavette got a standing ovation for her soulful “Souvenirs.”

Wearing an off-the-shoulder blue dress and wide-brimmed white hat, Price married the angelic tones of her voice with her Bonnie Raitt influence for a show-stopping “Angel from Montgomery.”

McBryde took the stage with a fiddle player, standing bass, guitarist and drummer for a tender “Mexican Home.” She was so nervous that she had to restart the song, but said she was determined to get it right. And she did.

“Hurry, hurry, sit right up. It’s a matter of life and death,” she gently crooned.

Yoakam followed with a heartfelt explanation of the extraordinary impact Prine had on his artistry. Both men hail from Kentucky, and Yoakam said Prine’s writing on his song “Paradise” had “impacted me so mightily that it turned my gaze back home to the hills and hollows.”

“I’ve said this many times over the years, John Prine probably had as large an impact on my life as a singer, songwriter and performer,” Yoakam said before singing “Spanish Pipedream.”  “The word genius is used often and often times too lavishly. It is never used enough when it comes to John Prine and his music.”

Prine closed the tribute concert, exclaiming, “This is the best party I’ve ever had.”

Joined by Sara Watkins, his rich and textured voice wrapped around “Late John Garfield Blues” and “Summer’s End.” He occasionally tripped over a lyric and good-naturedly quipped about messing up his own songs.

The show finished with a Yoakam-led all-sing on “Paradise.”

Sunday is a big day for Prine, too. The beloved singer/songwriter is nominated for three Grammy Awards: Best Americana Album for “The Tree of Forgiveness,” and Best American Roots Song for “Knocking on Your Screen Door” and “Summer’s End.”

The 61st Annual Grammy Awards will air at 8 p.m. EST/5 p.m. PST Sunday on CBS.

“I’m just thrilled for John because he makes such honest and original music and it’s incredible to see The Grammy’s honoring his hard work. It’s really important this day in age.”