Canadian singer Joni Mitchell announced today that she became an American citizen after over 60 years living in the United States, revealing her desire to participate in the American elections.
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14/10/2026
by
Lusa
A singer and composer of Canadian origin Joni Mitchell announced today that she became an American citizen after more than six decades living in the United States.
82-year-old Joni Mitchell published on his social media account Instagram a video of the ceremony where he received citizenship, emerging with an American flag.
“A journey that began 62 years ago,” said the composer, quoted by international news agencies.
Mitchell did not explain why he decided to ask for American citizenship, but Canadian media today recalled that during a concert in Los Angeles in 2024, after playing “Dog Eat Dog”, the singer stated: "Fuck Donald Trump. I love this song.”.
At that concert, Joni Mitchell regretted not being able to vote in the American elections and recalled that he was still Canadian.
Last February at the Grammy Awards gala, where he was distinguished, Joni Mitchell appeared with a pin “ICE Out” on the lapel, in a protest against the actions of the United States Immigration and Customs Service.
Born in 1943 in Fort Macleod, Canada, in Alberta, Joni Mitchell moved to the United States in 1965 with her then husband, American musician Chuck Mitchell.
The marriage ended two years later, but by then Joni Mitchell had already consolidated his name on the folk music circuit.
After living in Detroit and New York, he settled in California, where he became one of the central figures of Laurel Canyon, Hollywood residential neighborhood, one of the epicenters of popular music in the 1960s and 1970s.
His debut album, "Song to a Seagull", dates back to 1968 and paved the way for "Ladies of the Canyon", his first album to reach the gold album.
Her latest studio album, “Shine”, dates back to 2007. In 2014, he edited the collection “Love Has Many Faces: The Quartet, A Ballet, Waiting To Be Danced”, which was distinguished by the Grammys.
In 2015, a brain aneurysm pushed her away from the music scene and the painting she had dedicated to, and demanded a long recovery process.
Joni Mitchell returned to the stage in 2022, with a surprise performance at the Newport Festival, accompanied by singer Brandi Carlile. The recording of this concert would give you new Grammy as the Best Contemporary Folk Album.
Since then, Joni Mitchell has performed concerts like “Joni Jam” – as if he were in his living room – with guest participation.
In 2023, he was awarded the Gershwin career prize. At the time, she was honored by musicians such as Annie Lennox, Angélique Kidjo, Herbie Hancock (with whom she played), Diana Krall, Cyndi Lauper, Graham Nash, James Taylor, Lucius, Marcus Mumford and Sara Bareilles, who played songs of hers as “Both Sides Now”, “Big Yellow Taxi” and “The Circle Game”.
This year, he received the Grammy for Best Historical Album, by the collection “Joni Mitchell Archives – Vol. 4: The Asylum Years (1976-1980)”, and the Juno prize from Canada for the entire work, which was handed to him by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
Artist of albums such as "Blue", which remains among the references of folk music, "Wild Things Run Fast" and "Mingus", as a tribute to jazz bassist Charlie Mingus, Joni Mitchell adds, among other awards, four Junos and 11 Grammy.
In 1997, it was included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Director Cameron Crowe prepares a ‘biopic’ about Joni Mitchell, which should be played by Meryl Streep, according to executive Clive Davis, as reported earlier this year.
The singer currently resides in Santa Barbara, California, and maintains a house in Sunshine Coast in the Canadian province of British Columbia.