It was a modest piece of news, as news items go these days, but it warmed my heart and made me smile.

Joni Mitchell had become a U.S. citizen.

The wonderfully accomplished singer-songwriter announced the news this past week in a social media post that included a photo of her smiling broadly as she stood in front of a Department of Homeland Security flag. She was sporting one of her signature berets, this one in red, a cane in her right hand, and a small American flag in her left. An accompanying video showed her sitting in the first row of seats in a nondescript office as a government official at a naturalization ceremony beckons her forward to join her fellow citizen inductees by saying, "Joni Mitchell, Canada."

The simplicity matched the significance of the moment and the character of the person. There was no mention of accomplishments or popularity. She was simply Joni Mitchell of Canada, she wanted to become a citizen, and she was ready to take the oath.

Mitchell, who turns........

© Newsday