Joni Mitchell becomes a US citizen 62 years after beginning the process

Joni Mitchell has officially become a US citizen, marking a significant milestone more than six decades after she first began the process.

The 82-year-old Grammy-winning singer-songwriter announced the news on Tuesday, October 13, sharing a photograph of herself smiling and waving a small American flag on Instagram.

“A journey that began 62 years ago,” Mitchell wrote alongside the image. She also posted a short video capturing the moment her name was called, making her American citizenship official.

By the late 1960s, Mitchell had settled in Southern California, where she continues to live. Despite her long-standing connection to the United States, she has maintained ties to her Canadian roots.

In a 2006 interview with the Ottawa Observer, Mitchell described Los Angeles as her “workplace” and British Columbia as her “heartbeat”, reflecting the importance of both places in her life.

The singer returned to Canada in March 2026 for the Juno Awards, where she accepted a Lifetime Achievement Award. It marked her first visit to the country in “many, many years”, according to Just Jared.

Mitchell, renowned for songs including “Big Yellow Taxi”, also attracted attention earlier this year during the 2026 Grammy Awards, when a moment from her acceptance speech went viral.

Her citizenship announcement now adds another notable chapter to the celebrated musician’s life and career.