After over sixty years of departing Canada, renowned musician Joni Mitchell has officially become a U.S. citizen at the age of 82. Mitchell announced the news through Instagram and X, sharing a photo and video from her naturalization ceremony. The image captured her with a beaming smile, sporting a red beret and sunglasses while holding a small American flag on her cardigan. A video from the ceremony showed her receiving applause as she moved forward.
Born Roberta Joan Anderson in Fort Macleod, Alta., in 1943, Mitchell relocated to the U.S. in the mid-1960s during a short-lived marriage to American musician Chuck Mitchell. She resided in Detroit and New York before settling in California, where she became a prominent figure in the Laurel Canyon music scene. Although currently living in Santa Barbara, Calif., she also maintains a second home on British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast.
Mitchell is renowned for hits like “Big Yellow Taxi” and “Woodstock,” with her 1971 album “Blue” considered a pivotal work in her career. Transitioning from a folk singer in Toronto coffeehouses, Mitchell has evolved into one of the most influential songwriters in history, releasing 19 studio albums and receiving accolades such as 11 Grammys, five Juno Awards, and induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Given Mitchell’s vocal political views in recent times, her acquisition of U.S. citizenship has sparked interest. During a performance at the Hollywood Bowl in 2024, Mitchell criticized then-U.S. President Donald Trump and encouraged the audience to vote. Despite previously expressing her Canadian identity, Mitchell’s decision to become a U.S. citizen does not signify a disconnection with her homeland, as she will retain her Canadian citizenship alongside her new American status.
While some social media users celebrated Mitchell’s citizenship announcement, others raised questions, particularly regarding the timing amid strained U.S.-Canada relations and Mitchell’s criticism of Trump. Mitchell’s journey has been marked by challenges, including a 2015 brain aneurysm that affected her speech and mobility. After years of recovery, she returned to public performances in 2022 and was honored with a lifetime achievement award by Prime Minister Mark Carney at the Juno Awards in Hamilton, Ont.
As Mitchell joins the American citizenry, plans for a biopic depicting her life are reportedly underway, with director Cameron Crowe and actress Meryl Streep linked to the project, according to IMDb.