About the song
Rare Linda Ronstadt 1970s Interview Talks About The Eagles
In the golden era of 1970s rock and country-rock, few voices were as captivating as Linda Ronstadt’s. Known as the “Queen of Rock,” Ronstadt’s soaring vocals and fearless artistry shaped an entire generation of music. While her own career was skyrocketing during this decade, she also played a pivotal role in the formation and early success of one of America’s most legendary bands: The Eagles. A recently unearthed interview from the 1970s reveals Ronstadt’s candid thoughts on the band, their talent, and her early belief in their future greatness.
The interview, recorded at the height of her fame, captures Ronstadt reflecting on the days when Glenn Frey and Don Henley were part of her backing band. Long before “Hotel California” and global superstardom, these young musicians were cutting their teeth on tour with Ronstadt. “They were so talented,” she said in the interview, her voice brimming with admiration. “I knew right away they wouldn’t stay with me long. They had their own ideas, their own songs, and I could see they were destined for something big.”
Indeed, it was Ronstadt who introduced Frey and Henley to each other, a meeting that sparked the formation of The Eagles in 1971. Looking back, she described the chemistry between them as undeniable. “They just clicked,” she recalled. “They had this instinctive understanding of harmony, and that’s something you can’t teach. When they sang together, it was magic.”
In the same interview, Ronstadt expressed her excitement—not envy—at watching her former bandmates branch out and succeed. “I never thought of it as losing them,” she explained. “I thought of it as being part of their story. I was proud.” This rare glimpse into her perspective underscores her generosity as an artist and mentor. At a time when the music industry was highly competitive, Ronstadt’s support and encouragement of The Eagles was both rare and essential to their early success.
She also touched on the sound they were creating, a blend of country harmonies and rock rhythms that would later define the California sound of the 1970s. “They weren’t trying to be anyone else,” Ronstadt noted. “They were just writing what they felt and singing the way it came naturally. That’s what made it so fresh.”
For fans today, the resurfaced interview is a reminder of how intertwined Ronstadt’s story is with that of The Eagles. Without her, their paths may never have crossed in quite the same way. And without them, Ronstadt’s touring years in the early 70s might have looked very different. It was a moment of serendipity that gave the world two of the greatest forces in American music.
Though her career took a different path from theirs, Ronstadt’s respect for The Eagles never wavered. “They had the drive, the ambition, and most of all, the songs,” she said. “I just knew they would make it.”
Decades later, both Linda Ronstadt and The Eagles are celebrated as icons. This rare interview not only highlights their early connection but also shines a light on Ronstadt’s role as a visionary who recognized greatness long before the rest of the world caught on.
