Joni Mitchell Becomes American Citizen After 62 Years in the U.S.

<p>Joni Mitchell has officially become an American citizen at age 82, more than six decades after she first moved to the United States.</p><p>The singer-songwriter, originally from Canada, announced her citizenship on Instagram, sharing a photo of herself holding an American flag and a video from her naturalization ceremony.</p><p>"A journey that began 62 years ago," Mitchell wrote in the caption of her post.</p><p>Mitchell wore a red and navy blue floral cardigan with an American flag pin, a red beaded necklace, a red beret, and black pants while posing between an American flag and a Department of Homeland Security flag.</p><p>In the video, she was seated in the front row at the ceremony as the speaker announced, "And Joni Mitchell, Canada," prompting cheers and applause from the audience.</p><p>According to KSL, Mitchell will retain her Canadian citizenship as both the U.S. and Canada allow dual citizenship.</p><p>Born Roberta Joan Anderson in Fort Macleod, Alberta, Mitchell's family moved several times during World War II before settling in Saskatoon, which she often refers to as her hometown. She attended the Alberta College of Art in Calgary before relocating to Toronto, where she began performing in coffee houses and folk clubs.</p><p>Mitchell moved to the United States in 1965 at age 21 after marrying American folk singer Chuck Mitchell. The couple performed together in Detroit, Michigan, before divorcing in 1967.</p><p>Following their divorce, Mitchell moved to New York City, becoming part of the Greenwich Village folk scene and performing along the East Coast.</p><p>By 1968, she settled in Los Angeles, where she recorded many acclaimed albums, including "Blue," "Court and Spark," and "Ladies of the Canyon." Mitchell has won 11 Grammy Awards and was inducted into both the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1997.</p><p>In 2021, she received the Kennedy Center Honors and in 2023, she was awarded the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song.</p><p>Mitchell resides in Santa Barbara, California.</p><p>She has been vocal about her criticism of former President Donald Trump and expressed frustration about not being able to vote in U.S. elections while she was Canadian.</p><p>During a performance at the Hollywood Bowl in October 2024, Mitchell criticized Trump while performing her song "Dog Eat Dog," and encouraged Americans to vote in the 2024 presidential election.</p><p>In March, while accepting a lifetime achievement award at Canada's Juno Awards, Mitchell commented on the political climate in the U.S. and praised Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.</p><p>She also appeared to criticize the Trump administration during her acceptance speech at the Grammy Awards in 2026, wearing an "ICE OUT" pin to protest U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.</p>