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Linda Ronstadt: Parkinson's Took My Singing Voice
The Hollywood Reporter ^ | 8/23/2013 | Sophie Schillaci

Posted on 08/23/2013 6:55:29 PM PDT by mr fish

The 67-year-old, 11-time Grammy Award winner details her struggle with the disease in an interview with the AARP.

Grammy Award-winning artist Linda Ronstadt has revealed that a recent Parkinson's diagnosis has rendered her unable to sing.

In an interview with the AARP, the 67-year-old says that she was officially diagnosed with the degenerative disorder eight months ago after displaying symptoms as far back as eight years ago.

"I couldn't sing," she told AARP music reporter Alanna Nash, "and I couldn't figure out why. I knew it was mechanical. I knew it had to do with the muscles, but I thought it might have also had something to do with the tick disease that I had. And it didn't occur to me to go to a neurologist."

PHOTOS: Grammys 2013: The Winners

Ronstadt says that she had undergone a shoulder operation, and she believed that to be the culprit for her trembling hands.

"Parkinson's is very hard to diagnose, so when I finally went to a neurologist and he said, 'Oh, you have Parkinson's disease,' I was completely shocked," she said. "I wouldn't have suspected that in a million, billion years."

Now, Ronstadt says she "can't sing a note." Throughout her career, which began when she was just 14 years old singing with her siblings, Ronstadt accumulated eleven Grammy Awards, two Academy of Country Music awards, an Emmy Award, a Tony Award and a Golden Globe nom for her role in The Pirates of Penzance. She released her first studio album in 1969 (Hand Sown… Home Grown) and her most recent in 2006 (Adieu False Heart).

Ronstadt recently penned a memoir, Simple Dreams, out Sept. 17, though the book does not address her diagnosis or the loss of her voice.

"No one can sing with Parkinson's disease," she tells AARP. "No matter how hard you try."

The publication's full interview with Ronstadt is slated to run on AARP.org next week.


TOPICS: Music/Entertainment
KEYWORDS: lindaronstadt; music
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To: mr fish

Another singer whose music I really like but whose politics I hate.

Up there in that respect with Willie and the Beatles.

Now uncle Ted I love his politics. But not a big fan of his music.


21 posted on 08/23/2013 7:15:32 PM PDT by Vaquero (Don't pick a fight with an old guy. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you.)
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To: mr fish

Not entirely sure where Linda is these days, but I'm pretty sure this woman ate her.

22 posted on 08/23/2013 7:15:45 PM PDT by martin_fierro (< |:)~)
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To: mr fish

I went to see her in concert, for the first time, about 5 or 6 years ago. She sounded fine to me after her first 2 songs. Then she went on a rant about GW Bush and I got up and left.


23 posted on 08/23/2013 7:16:26 PM PDT by CaptainK (...please make it stop. Shake a can of pennies at it.)
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To: martin_fierro

She eventually discovered she was Mexican, and well, she started eating like one.


24 posted on 08/23/2013 7:16:44 PM PDT by dfwgator
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To: mr fish

Great voice but her gushing over tub o’ guts Mikey Moore was really icky.


25 posted on 08/23/2013 7:17:21 PM PDT by tumblindice (America's founding fathers: All armed conservatives.)
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To: mr fish

That is a shame, she is also a very nice person. I met her once; she already had several hit songs but you would have never known it. She visited with me for quite a while and had no “star” attitude at all. I remember thinking- WOW I am talking to someone famous, but she was just so nice.


26 posted on 08/23/2013 7:17:24 PM PDT by Tammy8 (~Secure the border and deport all illegals- do it now! ~ Support our Troops!~)
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To: mr fish
This is how I prefer remembering her:

NOT like this:


27 posted on 08/23/2013 7:17:37 PM PDT by MuttTheHoople (Nothing is more savage and brutal than justifiably angry Americans. DonÂ’t believe me? Ask the Germa)
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To: ProtectOurFreedom

I hate liberals. They hate us back. They voted for a p-resident who destroyed the country. What’s there to forgive?


28 posted on 08/23/2013 7:19:09 PM PDT by max americana (fired liberals in our company after the election, & laughed while they cried (true story))
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To: goodnesswins

Wouldn’t have made a difference


29 posted on 08/23/2013 7:19:16 PM PDT by Pikachu_Dad (Impeach Sen Quinn)
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To: sphinx

I had a friend who grew up in Tucson with the Ronstadts; she said Linda and her sister (Mary?) who my friend claimed actually had the better voice, were both terrified singing in front of audiences. The sister so much so she never tried the type career Linda had.

Parkinsons is very debilitating; it took my father-in-law.


30 posted on 08/23/2013 7:21:31 PM PDT by EDINVA
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To: MuttTheHoople
!Aye aye aye! !Senor Mutt, clockwork orange photo: clockwork orange -clockwork-orange.jpg ju malo hombre!
31 posted on 08/23/2013 7:23:30 PM PDT by tumblindice (America's founding fathers: All armed conservatives.)
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To: martin_fierro

This is where I tell myself Im so old they ought to shoot me


32 posted on 08/23/2013 7:23:52 PM PDT by woofie
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To: mr fish

The Michael Moore-backing, America-hating harpy Linda Ronstadt has Parkinson’s? Oh.


33 posted on 08/23/2013 7:24:14 PM PDT by ScottinVA (If you don't care about Antonio Santiago, sure as hell don't whine about Trayvon Martin.)
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To: ConservativeStatement; ChildOfThe60s
Diferent Drum--The Stone Poneys (1967)

One of the DJ's who spun this disc on Boss Radio 93 KHJ in the fall of '67 referred to the group as the Stoned Poneys.

34 posted on 08/23/2013 7:25:38 PM PDT by Fiji Hill
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To: mr fish
Why does Linda Rondstadt always sing at the same speed?
She has a governor on her.

Old joke. (I'm showing my age)

35 posted on 08/23/2013 7:25:52 PM PDT by CrazyIvan (I'm so conservative I won't even wear progressive bifocals.)
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To: sphinx

Neil Diamond always concentrated on putting on a good show, regardless of the quality of his voice that night.


36 posted on 08/23/2013 7:27:11 PM PDT by Jonty30 (What Islam and secularism have in common is that they are both death cults)
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To: Salvey
A vicious, virulent, America-hater - - but I do wish her well.

I couldn't agree more, however I have to admit I wish she had kept her vile opinions to herself.. So talented a voice, so wrong in politics..

37 posted on 08/23/2013 7:27:57 PM PDT by carlo3b (Speechless in Sugar Land)
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To: ProtectOurFreedom
I agree..it is an awful disease. I wouldn't wish it on anybody. I have a good friend that has it and watching her deteriorate is heartbreaking.

I saw a video of Annette Funicello (probably here on FR)...same disease. Terrible thing.

I couldn't agree with Rondstat’s politics in any area...but she had a lovely voice.

38 posted on 08/23/2013 7:29:12 PM PDT by berdie
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To: Jonty30

He succeeded the night I saw him. It was clear that he was focused on giving good value for the paying customers. He worked the show hard. Nothing self indulgent or sloppy. One would like to think this reflected character offstage, but I don’t know anything about that.


39 posted on 08/23/2013 7:30:35 PM PDT by sphinx
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To: ProtectOurFreedom
We are better than that. Where’s your compassion and forgiveness?

You are so right about that. I believe that St. Augustine said something along the lines of "Love the sinner, hate the sin."

Sure, Ronstadt has said some kooky leftist things. But to my knowledge, she has never deliberately harmed anyone. I wish her only the best.

40 posted on 08/23/2013 7:31:19 PM PDT by Leaning Right
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