Singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell has become a US citizen more than six decades after first moving south from Canada. The 82-year-old shared footage of her citizenship ceremony on Instagram, along with a photo beside an American flag and the caption: “A journey that began 62 years ago.” According to theguardian.com, the milestone means Mitchell can now vote in US elections, a right she had previously said she wanted. For an artist whose career has been deeply tied to American music, the change lands as both personal and symbolic.
Joni Mitchell Marks a 62-Year Journey
Mitchell was born in Fort Macleod, Alberta, in 1943 and later grew up in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Her earliest performances came in local folk clubs before she expanded to Calgary and Toronto. There, she met US folk singer Chuck Mitchell. The pair married in 1965, and that move set her on the path to the United States. The marriage ended after two years, but her musical direction was already taking shape. By then, she had become a distinct voice on the American folk circuit, building the foundation for a major recording career.
The Singer Built Her Career in California
Her debut album arrived in 1968, launching a run that would make her one of the most respected songwriters of her era. After that release, Mitchell used her royalties to move to Laurel Canyon in Los Angeles, where she recorded Ladies of the Canyon, her first gold-selling album. California became her long-term base, and she now lives in Santa Barbara. The shift from Canadian folk clubs to the heart of the US singer-songwriter scene helped define her sound, placing her at the center of a period that reshaped popular music.
Voting Rights Mattered to Mitchell
Citizenship also carries political meaning for Mitchell. During a 2024 concert, she spoke openly about not being able to take part in US elections. “I wish I could vote ... I’m a Canadian. I’m one of those lousy immigrants,” Mitchell said according to theguardian.com. In the same appearance, she also referenced the YG track “Fuck Donald Trump.” Those comments drew attention because they linked her citizenship status to a long-held frustration. Now, after years of living and working in the country, she has gained the right she said she wanted.
Live Performances Brought Her Back
Mitchell’s latest studio album, Shine, was released in 2007. In the years that followed, she stepped away from public life, especially after suffering a brain aneurysm in 2015 that led to a long recovery. Her return to the stage in 2022 at the Newport Folk Festival was a major moment in music, arriving through an unannounced set that reminded audiences of her presence and power. Since then, she has continued with a series of all-star Joni Jam concerts, adding fresh live chapters to a career that keeps evolving.
