Joni Mitchell becomes an American citizen after more than 60 years

Joni Mitchell can see both sides of the U.S.-Canada border freely now.

The famed Canadian singer-songwriter shared a major milestone with fans on Tuesday, posing with an American flag to reveal she is officially a U.S. citizen. She also shared a clip of her citizenship ceremony in the Instagram post.

“A journey that began 62 years ago,” Mitchell’s caption said.

Mitchell, 82, was born and raised in Canada before moving to the U.S. with her then-husband in the 1960s. She lived in Detroit and New York City before eventually settling in the Laurel Canyon area of Los Angeles.

Her fans might say that Mitchell is synonymous with California, considering her hit song named after the state on her beloved 1971 album “Blue.”

“Oh, California, I’m coming home,” Mitchell sang in the song. “Oh, make me feel good rock ‘n roll band. I’m your biggest fan. California, I’m coming home.”

Joni Mitchell plays guitar outside The Revolution club in London in 1968. — Joni Mitchell outside The Revolution club in London in 1968. Hulton Archive / Getty

And although Mitchell has not been a U.S. citizen until now, that hasn’t stopped her from speaking out about American politics.

She wrote “The Fiddle and the Drum” in 1969 in protest of the Vietnam war. Mitchell’s lyrics urged America to find peace as the world had “all come to fear the beating of your drum.”

Mitchell also lashed out at tax exemptions for religious institutions in the 1980s in the song “Tax Free.” She called out the United States in the lyrics as well as religious leaders who call for large donations while “preaching love like hate.”

Most recently, Mitchell was on stage at the Hollywood Bowl in 2024 when she made her current political opinions clear. She was performing with singer Brandi Carlile, according to Billboard, when she told the crowd, “‘F— Donald Trump.’ I love that song.”

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