Joni Mitchell, the iconic Canadian folk singer, became a U.S. citizen at a naturalization ceremony on Tuesday morning, 62 years after first arriving in the United States. Wearing a red beret and navy blue floral shirt, she took her oath amid loud applause, later sharing a video and photo of herself holding a U.S. flag on social media with the caption: “A journey that began 62 years ago.” Mitchell, now 82, arrived in Detroit in the mid-1960s with her then-husband Chuck Mitchell, also a musician, seeking to build their careers in America. After their marriage ended two years later, she moved to Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood, where she wrote “Chelsea Morning” and launched her legendary career.
Her debut album, “Song to a Seagull,” came out in 1968, followed by “Clouds” in April 1969 — a U.S. Top 40 hit that won her a Grammy for Best Folk Performance and landed her on the cover of Rolling Stone. She subsequently lived in Laurel Canyon and Bel Air before settling in Santa Barbara, maintaining ties to British Columbia where she once owned seaside property. Though she has not explained her timing for seeking citizenship, Mitchell previously voiced her desire to vote during a Los Angeles performance in October 2024, saying, “I wish I could vote… I’m a Canadian — I’m one of those lousy immigrants,” a remark widely interpreted as a critique of anti-immigration rhetoric.
Her exclusion from The New York Times’ recent list of “30 greatest living American songwriters” sparked debate, with the paper stating it did not wish to “steal that honor from Canada,” despite her profound influence on American folk music alongside Bob Dylan, who was included.
Source: New York Times Top Stories · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing