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Linda Ronstadt on Parkinson’s Diagnosis: Life Is ‘Different’
For decades, Linda Ronstadt reigned as one of the most versatile and celebrated voices in music. With a career that spanned rock, country, folk, and even opera, she sold millions of albums and gave the world unforgettable hits like “Blue Bayou,” “You’re No Good,” and “Don’t Know Much.” Yet today, Ronstadt lives with a reality that has forever altered her life: Parkinson’s disease. And while the diagnosis was devastating, she speaks about it with a mix of honesty, grace, and quiet acceptance.
Ronstadt first noticed something was wrong in the early 2000s. She found it increasingly difficult to sing notes she once reached effortlessly. At first, she thought it might be fatigue or the natural toll of age, but soon the changes grew impossible to ignore. “I couldn’t sing in tune,” she recalled. “I couldn’t control the pitch, and my voice just wasn’t there anymore.” For a singer whose career was built on extraordinary control and range, the decline was both baffling and heartbreaking.
In 2013, doctors confirmed what she had feared: Parkinson’s disease, a progressive neurological disorder that affects movement and muscle control. For Ronstadt, the news was crushing. It meant not only a battle with a serious illness but also the end of her singing career. “No one can sing with Parkinson’s,” she said plainly. “It’s just impossible.”
Since then, Ronstadt has spoken candidly about how life has changed. “It’s different,” she admitted. Everyday tasks that once came easily now require more effort. She deals with limitations in mobility and energy, forcing her to adjust to a slower pace of life. Yet, she does not let the disease define her. Instead, she focuses on what she still can do—spending time with family, writing, and reflecting on the extraordinary journey she’s had.
Though she no longer performs, her impact continues to resonate. In 2019, Ronstadt was honored at the Kennedy Center, where artists paid tribute to her career with moving performances of her songs. Unable to sing herself, she watched from the audience as her legacy came alive through others’ voices. The night was both bittersweet and celebratory, a reminder that her music lives on even if she can no longer share it live.
Ronstadt has also used her platform to raise awareness about Parkinson’s disease. By speaking openly about her struggles, she has given comfort to others facing similar diagnoses. Her willingness to be vulnerable—sharing not just her triumphs but her losses—has deepened the respect fans feel for her. “I can’t sing anymore,” she once said, “but I had a long, beautiful career. I did what I set out to do.”
Life may be “different” now, but Linda Ronstadt remains a symbol of strength. Her story is not just about the music she can no longer make, but about the courage with which she has embraced change. Her songs still echo in the hearts of millions, a lasting reminder that even in silence, her voice is eternal.
