Joni Mitchell's health an 'uphill fight'

The 72-year-old folk singer was hospitalised in March last year after suffering a brain aneurism. Photo / AP

Joni Mitchell still faces a "hard uphill fight" back to full health.

The 72-year-old folk singer was hospitalised in March last year after suffering a brain aneurism, and while it was previously reported she would make a full recovery, her former boyfriend David Crosby says she is still working at getting better.

"It's a hard uphill fight, but she's a very tough girl," he said.

The 75-year-old singer believes Mitchell is the "greatest living songwriter" and the best of their generation.

He told Event magazine: "I don't think there's any question that when they look back in 100 years, they'll say she was the best of us. It's her or Bob [Dylan], and Bob can't sing! I think she's our greatest living songwriter."

Mitchell recently made her first public appearance since her hospitalisation.

Photographs of her at a Chick Corea concert in Los Angeles on August 20 were posted on her official website, with the caption: "We are thrilled to see Joni out and about again!"

After suffering the aneurism, Mitchell was unable to speak, but by June last year she was undertaking daily physical therapy and left hospital the next month.

- Bang Showbiz