Joni Mitchell Celebrates U.S. Citizenship After ‘A Journey That Began 62 Years Ago’

Joni Mitchell has had quite the American journey, and it has finally hit a new milestone. More than six decades after making her way south from Canada, the legendary singer/songwriter has officially become a United States citizen.

Mitchell shared the news via Instagram on Tuesday (Oct. 13), posting a photo of herself smiling while holding a miniature American flag. She also uploaded a video showing her being applauded as she stepped forward during her citizenship ceremony.

“A journey that began 62 years ago,” she captioned the post. Mitchell has not provided further details about her decision to pursue citizenship.

Born in Fort Macleod, Alberta, in 1943, Mitchell first moved to the United States in the mid-1960s. Her travels eventually brought her to Los Angeles, where she became a defining figure in the Laurel Canyon music scene alongside fellow singer/songwriters and musicians.

Over the decades, Mitchell built a catalog that would influence generations of artists, earning her a place among the most celebrated and recognized songwriters in popular music. Her relationship with the U.S., however, has not always been straightforward.

During a 2024 performance at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, Mitchell made her political feelings known with a blunt expletive directed at then-presidential candidate Donald Trump. She followed it with a lament about her inability to vote as a Canadian citizen, jokingly referring to herself as “one of those lousy immigrants.”

This turning point in Mitchell’s life comes with an extraordinary legacy behind her. On the charts, Mitchell’s biggest Billboard Hot 100 hit as a performer remains “Help Me,” which peaked at No. 7 in 1974. The song appeared on Court and Spark, the album that became her highest-charting release on the Billboard 200, reaching No. 2 that same year.

Released in 1971, Blue remains a cornerstone of her catalog. The deeply personal album peaked at No. 15 on the Billboard 200, featuring songs such as “A Case of You,” “River” and “California.” Its reputation has only grown over time, establishing itself as an influential album of its era.