Joni Mitchell Naturalizes as U.S. Citizen After 62 Years

Key points

• Joni Mitchell was sworn in as a U.S. citizen on Tuesday, October 13, 2026.
• She announced the news on Instagram with a photo holding an American flag and a video of the ceremony.
• Mitchell has lived in the U.S. since 1964, moving from Canada to Detroit and later to Los Angeles.
• The citizenship grants her the right to vote in upcoming U.S. elections, a right she previously lacked.
• She retains her Canadian citizenship, as the U.S. allows dual citizenship.

Background

Mitchell has been a resident of the United States since 1964, moving from Canada to Detroit and later to Los Angeles. She has been a prominent figure in the American music scene for over six decades, releasing 18 studio albums, most of which were recorded in the U.S. In 2024, she publicly criticized President Trump at a concert in Los Angeles, stating she wished she could vote but was a Canadian. This decision follows her 2024 public criticism of President Trump and coincides with the upcoming midterm elections. The news also resolves a recent controversy where the New York Times excluded her from a list of American songwriters due to her previous citizenship status.

How outlets are covering it

The New York Times emphasizes the historical significance of Mitchell's citizenship, noting that she has been a resident of the U.S. for 62 years. Rolling Stone highlights the personal aspect of the decision, noting that Mitchell has been a resident of the U.S. for 64 years. ABC News focuses on the practical implications of the citizenship, noting that it grants Mitchell voting rights in the U.S. Variety emphasizes the political context of the decision, noting that it follows Mitchell's 2024 public criticism of President Trump. All outlets agree that the citizenship is a significant moment for Mitchell, but they differ in their emphasis on the historical, personal, and political aspects of the decision.

Why it matters

Joni Mitchell's citizenship is a significant moment for the music industry, as it grants her voting rights in the U.S. and resolves a recent controversy where the New York Times excluded her from a list of American songwriters due to her previous citizenship status. The decision also highlights the complex relationship between Canada and the U.S., as Mitchell has been a resident of the U.S. for over 60 years but has maintained her Canadian citizenship. The citizenship is also a significant moment for the music industry, as it grants Mitchell voting rights in the U.S. and resolves a recent controversy where the New York Times excluded her from a list of American songwriters due to her previous citizenship status.

What to watch

Mitchell is expected to vote in the upcoming U.S. elections. She is also expected to continue her music career, as she has been a prominent figure in the American music scene for over six decades. The citizenship is also expected to have a significant impact on the music industry, as it grants Mitchell voting rights in the U.S. and resolves a recent controversy where the New York Times excluded her from a list of American songwriters due to her previous citizenship status.