Legendary singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell announced her acquisition of U.S. citizenship on Tuesday morning through Instagram posts showing her being sworn in. She shared a photograph of herself holding an American flag in front of federal buildings and a brief video of her receiving applause during the naturalization ceremony.
Mitchell’s decision to pursue dual citizenship comes as a notable development given her longtime Canadian residency status. The New York Times had previously excluded her from a ranking of greatest living American songwriters earlier this year, citing her Canadian citizenship despite her primary residence in California. Her move to U.S. citizenship potentially reopens questions about her eligibility for future American cultural recognition lists.
The musician was born in Fort McLeod, Alberta, in 1943 and moved through various Canadian locations before relocating to the United States in 1965 following her marriage to Chuck Mitchell. She established herself in the American folk and music scenes while maintaining Canadian ties and residency in British Columbia. In recent years, she has been based in the Santa Barbara area.
Mitchell experienced a significant health setback in 2015 with a brain aneurysm but has made a notable recovery that enabled her return to public performances. She appeared at the Newport Folk Festival in 2022, followed by performances at the Gorge in Washington state in 2023 and the Hollywood Bowl in 2024 as part of collaborative “Joni Jam” events. Mitchell offered no additional comment regarding the timing or circumstances of her citizenship decision.
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