Challenges Faced by Linda Ronstadt: Obstacles and Turning Points

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: March 25, 2025

A closer look at the defining struggles that shaped Linda Ronstadt's life and career.

Linda Ronstadt is a versatile American singer renowned for her ability to traverse diverse musical genres, including rock, country, light opera, the Great American Songbook, and Latin music. Her successful career cemented her status as a prominent figure in the music industry, showcasing her adaptability and vocal talent across various styles and earning her critical acclaim and a devoted following.

Sections (7)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals Legacy & Impact

1969: Fusion Magazine Interview on Being a 'Chick Singer'

In a 1969 interview in Fusion magazine, Linda Ronstadt spoke about the challenges of being a single "chick singer" with an all-male backup band, including the ego problems of musicians being labeled sidemen for a female singer.

1970: Ronstadt criticized for genre-crossing music

As early as 1970, Linda Ronstadt faced criticism from music purists for blending various genres, with some feeling she was too gentle for rock, too pop for folk, and not easily understood by pop audiences, though she gained popularity among country fans.

1972: Commercial Success

Linda Ronstadt's first commercial failure occurred in 1972.

1974: Crawdaddy Interview on Being Taken Advantage Of

In a 1974 interview with Peter Knobler in Crawdaddy, Linda Ronstadt expressed feeling that people are always taking advantage of you and those interested in you have an angle.

1976: Rolling Stone Interview on Road Loneliness

In a 1976 interview with Cameron Crowe in Rolling Stone, Linda Ronstadt described the profound loneliness experienced while touring as a musician.

1977: Ronstadt upset by Time cover image

In 1977, Linda Ronstadt was upset by her appearance on the cover of Time magazine, feeling that the image projected a false image of her. She disliked the dress she was forced to wear for the photo.

1978: Attempted Trio Album

In 1978, Linda Ronstadt, Dolly Parton, and Emmylou Harris attempted to collaborate on a Trio album, but the effort was abandoned due to conflicting schedules and career priorities.

1981: Scrapped album Keeping Out of Mischief

In 1981, Linda Ronstadt produced and recorded an album of pop standards titled Keeping Out of Mischief with Jerry Wexler, but she scrapped the project due to dissatisfaction with the results.

1984: Starring in La bohème

In 1984, Linda Ronstadt was cast as Mimi in La bohème at Joseph Papp's Public Theater. However, the production was a critical and commercial failure, closing after a few nights.

1994: Recording Follow-up to Trio

In 1994, Linda Ronstadt, Dolly Parton, and Emmylou Harris recorded a follow-up to Trio, but conflicting schedules delayed its release. Ronstadt later used some of the recordings on her 1995 album, Feels Like Home.

2000: Reduced activity due to voice deterioration

Around 2000, Linda Ronstadt began to reduce her musical activity due to a perceived deterioration in her singing voice.

2008: Deletion of We Ran Album

In 2008, the album 'We Ran' was deleted after selling only 57,897 copies, making it the poorest-selling studio album in Linda Ronstadt's Elektra/Asylum catalog.

2011: Retirement Announcement and Health Diagnosis

In 2011, Linda Ronstadt announced her retirement from singing and revealed that she had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, which was later determined to be progressive supranuclear palsy, affecting her ability to sing.

December 2012: Diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease

In December 2012, Linda Ronstadt was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, which was later re-evaluated as progressive supranuclear palsy, and which caused her to lose her singing ability.

August 2013: Diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease Revealed

In August 2013, Linda Ronstadt revealed her diagnosis with Parkinson's disease, which caused a loss of muscular control and impaired her ability to sing.

August 2013: Public Revelation of Parkinson's Disease Diagnosis

In August 2013, Linda Ronstadt revealed to Alanna Nash, writing for AARP, that she had Parkinson's disease and could "no longer sing a note." Her diagnosis was subsequently re-evaluated as progressive supranuclear palsy.

2019: Revised Diagnosis of Progressive Supranuclear Palsy

In late 2019, Linda Ronstadt's doctors revised her diagnosis from Parkinson's disease to progressive supranuclear palsy, a degenerative disease with similar symptoms.