'62 years in the making': Joni Mitchell becomes US citizen
Joni Mitchell has become a US citizen, 62 years after she first left Canada.
Joni Mitchell has become a US citizen.
The 82-year-old singer first travelled to America from her native Canada in 1965 with her then-husband Chuck Mitchell and they lived in Detroit for several years, before she had a brief stint in New York and eventually settled in California later in the 60s, where she has lived ever since, and she has now become a citizen of the country where she spent most of her adult life.
Sharing a smiling photo of herself holding an American flag, Joni wrote on social media: “A journey that began 62 years ago."
The Both Sides Now singer also shared a short video of the moment her name was called during the ceremony.
Her former boyfriend Graham Nash, who is British and obtained US citizenship in 1978, congratulated Joni in the comments of her post.
He wrote: "Congrats, Joan! Just in time to vote! [raising hands and heart emojis]"
It is unclear why Joni has opted to take up dual citizenship at this time in her life.
Two years ago, fronting a Joni Jam at the Hollywood Bowl, she blasted US president Donald Trump and lamented not being in a position to formally have her voice heard.
She said: "F*** Donald Trump. I wish I could vote…I’m a Canadian. I’m one of those lousy immigrants."
The Big Yellow Taxi hitmaker previously described Los Angeles as her "workplace" and British Columbia, where she has property, as her "heartbeat".
Earlier this year, Joni - who stepped out of the spotlight for some time after suffering a brain aneurysm in 2015 - returned to Canada for the first time in "many, many years" to accept a Lifetime Achievement honour at the Juno Awards in Hamilton, Ontario.
Accepting the prize from Prime Minister Mark Carney, she said: “We are so fortunate to have him. I’m living in the States and you know what’s happening there.
“Some years ago - 10 or 12 years ago, I forget how long ago - I had an aneurysm, which changed my life, oddly, for the better.
“My home’s filled up with the most wonderful nurses. I was on the road with men for years and years, now I live with a house full of women, and I have a fantastic therapist [who] goes everywhere with me. So my life has changed for the better out of a catastrophe, like a phoenix who grows a better life.”
