Joni Mitchell is still "struggling" to walk, five years after suffering a brain aneurysm

She said: "You know what? I came back from polio, so here I am again, and struggling back.

"Just inching my way along. I’m showing slow improvement but moving forward.

"Once again I couldn’t walk. I had to learn how again. I couldn’t talk. Polio didn’t grab me like that, but the aneurysm took away a lot more, really. Took away my speech and my ability to walk.

"And, you know, I got my speech back quickly, but the walking I’m still struggling with. But I mean, I’m a fighter. I’ve got Irish blood!

" So you know, I knew, 'Here I go again, another battle.' "

The 'Both Sides Now' hitmaker has been so focused on her recovery, she hasn't written music or even picked up an instrument for some time.

She told The Guardian newspaper: "I haven’t been writing recently. I haven’t been playing my guitar or the piano or anything. No, I’m just concentrating on getting my health back."

And though Joni is still interested in music, she admitted there aren't many "contemporary" artists that she listens to.

She said: "I have music. I don’t listen to too much contemporary music. Babyface I’m listening to – that’s about it. Babyface and Leela James."