She's looked at borders from both sides now. On October 13, Joni Mitchell announced that, completing a "journey that began 62 years ago," she had finally become an American citizen. The 82-year-old singer-songwriter revealed the news on social media with a picture of her waving the Stars and Stripes and a short clip of her being summoned at her swearing-in ceremony. Up until this point, despite living and building her music career in America for decades and famously calling California "home" on one of the state's great unofficial anthems back in 1971, Mitchell was still a Canadian citizen. Some fans in her comments were confused by the timing: Why pose smiling in front of a big Department of Homeland Security flag now?

To vote, of course. Yesterday, Mitchell followed up with a brief statement, saying, "I became a citizen so I could vote. I didn't give up my Canadian citizenship, and I never will. I'm a proud Canerican like Neil Young." Young, her fellow "Canerican," obtained his U.S. citizenship in 2020 for similar reasons, posting a picture of himself saluting in front of a voter-registration table. In case there was any doubt of whether or not she'll be voting Blue, recall how at a Hollywood Bowl concert in 2024, Mitchell said, "I wish I could vote. I'm a Canadian. I'm one of those lousy immigrants" and "Fuck Donald Trump."

Mitchell's timing is also perfectly calibrated for that most American of pursuits: self-promotion. On October 15, she announced the release of NEWS, a collection of 23 of her paintings, compiled in a book, inspired by the 24-hour news cycle, combining "slogans, song lyrics, and compelling paintings to skewer power and politics. These new works articulate protest and resistance," per the book's description. "In the current climate, I felt a need to express my concern. It is an artist's duty to speak up," Mitchell said in a statement. "This is not fake news!" It retails for $65. That's $88, Canadian.