Her relationship with Nash was particularly significant, inspiring the song “Our House” on ‘Ladies of the Canyon’. If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to have a house full of domestic bliss, well, this song gives you a glimpse, albeit with a touch of Mitchell's ever-present wistfulness. The two parted ways, but the song remains an evergreen favorite. Later, Joni married and divorced bassist Larry Klein, with whom she collaborated musically, and she also adopted a daughter, Kilauren Gibb. Motherhood, however, was never something she allowed to define her entirely—Joni was never interested in being put in a box. Even her maternal instincts came with a dose of “I’ll do it my way, thank you very much.”

Though she’s spent the later part of her career stepping out of the spotlight to focus on painting and personal reflection, Joni Mitchell’s influence is still felt everywhere. She’s popped up in collaborations with everyone from Kendrick Lamar to Brandi Carlile. Her 2002 album 'Both Sides Now' was a meditation on aging, and even as she’s moved away from active music production, her catalog remains a touchstone for singer-songwriters, poets, and musicians who strive to capture the nuance and complexity of human experience.

Her legacy is unassailable. Joni Mitchell made it clear that being an artist means always evolving, never settling, and using your voice to change the world—whether through folk, jazz, or something altogether new. In short: Joni Mitchell didn’t just break the mold; she threw it into the river and wrote a song about the journey it took. And we’re all the better for it.