Joni Mitchell Officially Becomes a Dual U.S. Citizen

Joni Mitchell, a longtime resident of the United States, is now officially recognized as a newly sworn-in U.S. citizen. She shared an Instagram post on Tuesday with the caption “A journey that began 62 years ago,” showing her taking the oath of citizenship amid applause. Pitchfork has contacted her representatives and Brandi Carlile for comment.

Her decision to naturalize is not an endorsement of the current U.S. political climate. The musician has publicly opposed President Donald Trump, stating during a 2024 “Joni Jam” performance at the Hollywood Bowl, “Fuck Donald Trump. I wish I could vote… I’m a Canadian. I’m one of those lousy immigrants.”

Mitchell has also criticized the Canadian government over the years. A 2006 statement on her website said that, although she identifies primarily as Canadian and holds dual citizenship, she believes the country is moving dangerously close to assimilation with the United States in political, economic, and cultural terms.

Born in Alberta and raised in Saskatoon from age nine, Mitchell first moved to the United States in the mid‑1960s, settling in Detroit after marrying Chuck Mitchell. She briefly lived in New York before relocating to Los Angeles in 1968, where she emerged as a leading figure in the burgeoning Laurel Canyon folk scene. She now resides in Santa Barbara.

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