Joni Mitchell is officially a US citizen. The legendary singer-songwriter announced the news Tuesday, describing it as the end of a journey that began 62 years ago. Video from a Department of Homeland Security office shows her name being called as a new citizen, followed by cheers and applause, plus a photo of her holding a banner in front of the American flag.
The backstory makes the moment hit harder. Mitchell was born in Fort Macleod, Alberta, in 1943, moved to the US in the mid-1960s, landed in Detroit with her then-husband, and has called Los Angeles home since the late 1960s. So this isn’t a new chapter. It’s a very delayed stamp on a life she’s been living stateside for six decades.
She’s also not one to stay quiet. Mitchell made her feelings about Donald Trump very clear at a 2024 concert, so this milestone carries a little political edge alongside the celebration. Add in the upcoming Cameron Crowe biopic, with Meryl Streep set to play her and Anya Taylor-Joy rumored for young Joni, and 2026 is shaping up to be a major Mitchell year. What’s your favorite Joni Mitchell song? Tell us in the comments.
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Local Lawton
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