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Exclusive: Linda Ronstadt Suspects She Had Parkinson’s for 12 Years
In an emotional and revealing confession, Linda Ronstadt, one of the most iconic voices of the 1970s, has opened up about her long and painful journey with the illness that silently stole her voice — a condition she now believes may have been Parkinson’s disease for over 12 years before her diagnosis.
The Rock & Roll Hall of Famer, whose hits like “Blue Bayou,” “You’re No Good,” and “Don’t Know Much” defined an era, first began noticing subtle changes in her voice in the early 2000s. “I thought I had just lost my breath control,” Linda shared in a recent interview. “My pitch wasn’t steady, my voice was trembling — but I never imagined it was Parkinson’s.”
For years, she pushed through tours and recording sessions, attributing the symptoms to exhaustion and aging. “I kept thinking, maybe I’m just out of practice,” she said. “But deep down, something felt wrong.” By the time she was officially diagnosed in 2013, her once-limitless range — that soaring, effortless sound — had already fallen silent.
Doctors later told her that the disease had likely been progressing quietly for more than a decade. “They believe I’d had Parkinson’s for at least twelve years before anyone could name it,” Ronstadt explained. “That realization broke my heart. I had been fighting a battle I didn’t even know existed.”
Friends and fellow musicians describe her as brave and resilient. Dolly Parton, who once shared the stage with her, said, “Linda was always a fighter. Even when she couldn’t sing anymore, her spirit never faded.” Jackson Browne echoed that sentiment: “She was one of the greatest interpreters of emotion in song — and she still is, even without a microphone.”
Despite losing her singing voice, Linda found other ways to express herself. She began writing, producing, and mentoring younger artists. “Music never left me,” she said softly. “It’s just that now, I experience it differently — in my mind, in my memories.”
Her openness has inspired thousands battling similar conditions. Fans have flooded social media with messages of love, gratitude, and admiration. One wrote, “Linda gave us the soundtrack of our lives. Now we stand by her as she fights this unseen enemy.”
Today, Ronstadt lives quietly in San Francisco, surrounded by books, photographs, and the melodies of her past. She often revisits recordings from her prime, not with sadness, but with gratitude. “I had the best run anyone could hope for,” she reflected. “And even though my voice is gone, my heart still sings.”
Linda’s story is not one of loss, but of resilience, grace, and truth. Her courage in confronting her illness continues to echo — a reminder that while Parkinson’s may silence the voice, it can never silence the soul that sang.
