Joni Mitchell, born Roberta Joan Anderson on November 7, 1943, is a Canadian-American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and painter. Emerging from the 1960s folk scene, she is known for her emotionally vulnerable and personal lyrics, unconventional compositions, and blending of folk, pop, rock, classical, and jazz genres. Some of her best-known songs include "Both Sides, Now" and "Big Yellow Taxi". Mitchell's early career involved performing in small nightclubs in Canada before moving to the United States in 1965. Her debut album, Song to a Seagull, was released in 1968.
Mitchell has received numerous accolades, including eleven Grammy Awards, induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997, the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song, and she was appointed a Companion of the Order of Canada. In 2015, she suffered a brain aneurysm that initially left her unable to walk or speak. However, through extensive rehabilitation, she has made significant progress. In recent years, Mitchell has returned to live performance, including a surprise full-length concert at the Newport Folk Festival in 2022 after a hiatus of over 20 years. At the Grammy Awards in February 2024, she won Best Folk Album for At Newport and performed "Both Sides, Now". In February 2026, she won the Grammy Award for Best Historical Album for Joni Mitchell Archives - Volume 4: The Asylum Years — 1976-1980. She is also set to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2026 JUNO Awards.
