What’s New? Well, Linda Ronstadt Turns 80 Today
What’s new? Linda Ronstadt, who was blessed with arguably the greatest female singing voice of her generation, turns 80 today.
Born July 15, 1946, Ronstadt’s been retired from performing since 2009, when that singing voice was silenced by the effects of progressive supranuclear palsy.
“Literally my entire career flashed in front of my eyes,” she later recalled of her final concert. “I remembered every show I’d ever done. I was glad it was Mexican music.”
Though she’s best known for her country, pop and rock music, Ronstadt did do a lot of Mexican music, a move record executives said would be career suicide.
She cut standards, too. And was also warned of career suicide.
What the suits forgot was Ronstadt’s voice - a voice that can make people listen to music they might not otherwise listen to.
Not all of Ronstadt’s music for everyone but some of Ronstadt’s music is sure to appeal to everyone - not only because of how diverse her songbook is, but because of that voice.
It’s so good, it’s so good, it’s so good, baby, it’s so good.
7/15/26
