Joni Mitchell becomes US citizen after 62 years

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 14 Oct, 10:39 · Archive

The 82-year-old Canadian-born singer has become a US citizen, allowing her to vote in American elections.

Joni Mitchell has become a US citizen, posting footage of her naturalisation ceremony on Instagram alongside a photo of herself holding an American flag. The 82-year-old Canadian-born singer-songwriter captioned the post 'A journey that began 62 years ago'.

Mitchell moved to the United States in 1965 when she married folk singer Chuck Mitchell. They settled in Detroit, but the marriage ended two years later. She subsequently moved to New York City and then Los Angeles in 1968, where she recorded her breakthrough album Ladies of the Canyon. She has remained based in California, eventually settling in Santa Barbara.

Mitchell had previously expressed frustration about not being able to vote in US elections. At a concert in 2024, she said she wished she could vote, adding 'I'm a Canadian. I'm one of those lousy immigrants.' The citizenship news drew congratulations from fellow musicians, including her ex-boyfriend Graham Nash, who commented 'Just in time to vote!' on her announcement.

How it is being reported

• Joni Mitchell celebrates becoming a US citizen: ‘A journey that began 62 years ago’The Canadian-born singer, 82, shared a photo of herself holding an American flag.New York Post · 14 Oct, 10:28
• Joni Mitchell becomes US citizen: ‘A journey that began 62 years ago’Canada-born singer-songwriter, 82, posts footage of citizenship ceremony to Instagram Joni Mitchell has become a US citizen, after first moving to the country in the mid-1960s. The Canada-born singer-songwriter, 82, posted footage of her citizenship ceremony on her Instagram account, along with a photo of her next to an American flag, accompanied by the caption: “A journey that began 62 years ago.” It means that Mitchell can now vote in US elections, something that she had complained she wasn’t able to do. Continue reading...The Guardian · 14 Oct, 09:39

In this story: Joni Mitchell · Chuck Mitchell · Graham Nash · Canada · United States · Los Angeles · Santa Barbara

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