For most of her 73 years, music has been the heartbeat of Linda Ronstadt's life. From her early childhood days learning vibrato from her brother to her retirement in 2009 due to Parkinson's disease, Linda's journey has been nothing short of extraordinary. Music wasn't just a hobby or a career; it was her lifeblood. She once reminisced about growing up in a musically inclined family in Tucson, Arizona, saying, "We sang at the dinner table, we sang in the car, we sang with our hands in the dishwater." Now, even though she can't sing in the shower anymore, her passion for music remains unwavering.
A New Chapter in Linda's Story
Even though Parkinson's disease has silenced her singing voice, Linda has discovered other ways to express herself. Her dedication to music remains as strong as ever. A new documentary, Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice, which premiered on September 6, takes a deep dive into her illustrious career. Over the years, she won 10 Grammy Awards and sold over 100 million records. "She is still very focused on the music, and that was really what drove her," says Jeffrey Friedman, who co-directed the film with Rob Epstein, exclusively to Closer Weekly.
A Career Steeped in Passion
This focus led Linda to take charge of her career, explore new genres, collaborate with stars like Dolly Parton, and even put marriage on the back burner. "If I were going to choose something to do, it would not be to stand up in front of a lot of people," Linda once admitted, "but I love to sing. I love music. So at some point, you do whatever you have to do to do music." Her love for music was instilled in her from a young age. "My dad had a lovely tenor baritone voice," she recalled, speaking of her father, Gilbert Ronstadt, whose musician-cattle rancher father had emigrated from Mexico to Tucson. Growing up on the ranch, Linda was surrounded by music, from country rock to American standards, opera, and beyond. "There was a lot of music going on in our house," she fondly remembered.
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Trailblazing Through the Music Industry
It's no surprise that Linda became a singer. "Linda could literally sing anything," says her friend and musical partner Dolly Parton, with whom Linda and Emmylou Harris harmonized on their No. 1 album, Trio, in 1987. At the time, this album was seen as a risk, but as one of the few women who could sell out rock arenas, Linda made significant strides for women in the music industry. "At a certain point, she really took control of her own choices," says director Rob Epstein. "She was charting her own destiny." This same spirit of independence extended to her personal life. Despite dating notable figures like former California governor Jerry Brown, George Lucas, and Jim Carrey, Linda never married. "I was not cut out for marriage," she once said, humorously adding, "But this was when I was like 45, so I guess that means I'm just really immature!"
A Life of Harmony
Despite never tying the knot, Linda has two grown adopted children, Mary and Carlos, and maintains friendly relationships with her exes. "Jerry was here for Thanksgiving," she revealed recently. Parkinson's disease may have silenced her singing voice, but Linda still finds harmony in her life. "I got to live a lot of my dreams," she once said, "and I feel lucky about it." Her legacy continues to inspire countless fans and fellow musicians alike.
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