Joni Mitchell becomes U.S. citizen after 62 years, says she did it to vote

Legendary Canadian singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell has officially become a United States citizen. The 82-year-old artist shared the news on social media this week, posting a photo of herself smiling and holding a small American flag from her naturalization ceremony. Mitchell said she obtained her U.S. citizenship specifically so she could vote, but she clarified that she has not given up her Canadian citizenship. Canada and the U.S. allow for dual citizenship, meaning Mitchell will retain her Canadian passport.

Mitchell posted a brief caption with the image, calling it "a journey that began 62 years ago." She later shared more insight in another post, writing, "I became a citizen so I could vote. I didn't give up my Canadian citizenship, and I never will." Mitchell was born Roberta Joan Anderson in Fort Macleod, Alta., in 1943. She first moved to the U.S. in the mid-1960s during a brief marriage to American musician Chuck Mitchell, living in Detroit and New York before settling in California.

The timing of her citizenship sparked some curiosity given her vocal political stances. At a 2024 performance at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, Mitchell used an expletive to describe former U.S. president Donald Trump. "I wish I could vote. I’m a Canadian. I'm one of those lousy immigrants," she told the audience at the time, according to a press release on her website. In another report of the same concert, she was quoted as saying, "F, Donald Trump. I love that song," after performing her 1985 track Dog Eat Dog.

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Reaction to Mitchell's announcement was mixed on social media. Some users celebrated the news, with one calling it a "special moment." Others questioned the timing, with one user writing, "What?! Jesus READ THE ROOM Joni! Not impressed at all." Another wrote, "Never did I think I’d see Joni Mitchell be so completely tone deaf." Mitchell has been a defining figure in music for decades, known for songs like Big Yellow Taxi and Woodstock and for the landmark 1971 album Blue.

Her career has seen her evolve from a folk singer in Toronto coffee houses to one of the most influential songwriters in history. With 19 studio albums, her accolades include 11 Grammys, five Juno Awards and induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. After a brain aneurysm in 2015 impacted her speech and mobility, Mitchell spent years in recovery before returning to public performance in 2022. In March, Prime Minister Mark Carney presented her with a lifetime achievement award at the Juno Awards in Hamilton, Ont. Taking the stage to a standing ovation, Mitchell told the audience she was so happy to be in Canada with the prime minister. She said she lives in the U.S. and noted what is happening there, calling Carney a blessing and saying Canadians were fortunate. Mitchell then joined a musical tribute with several Canadian artists for a sing-along of her hits. While she now resides in Santa Barbara, Calif., she continues to maintain a second residence on British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast. According to IMDb, a biopic about Mitchell is reportedly in development, with director Cameron Crowe and actor Meryl Streep attached to the project.

With files from Global News, CBC News and The Guardian