Linda Ronstadt has Parkinson's, says she can no longer sing
By John Horn L.A. Times August 24, 2013
Singer Linda Ronstadt says she has Parkinson’s disease and can no longer sing.
The 67-year-old musician made the disclosure in an AARP Magazine interview posted online Friday.
Ronstadt, an 11-time Grammy winner, said that she was diagnosed with the neurological ailment about eight months ago and "can't sing a note."
“No one can sing with Parkinson’s disease,” Ronstadt said. “No matter how hard you try.”
Ronstadt said that she uses poles to help walk and uses a wheelchair when traveling.
She said in the interview that she noticed symptoms eight years ago, but assumed they were related to a tick disease.
“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. I wouldn’t have suspected that in a million, billion years," said the singer, known for such rock ballads as "You’re No Good” and “When Will I Be Loved."
Parkinson's symptoms include muscle tremors, rigidity, poor balance and faulty coordination.
Besides her fame as a singer, Ronstadt in the past was romantically linked to Gov. Jerry Brown and "Star Wars" filmmaker George Lucas. She is the author of the forthcoming memoir “Simple Dreams,” due out next month.
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Very sad to hear this. Somewhere deep down in me there's a young man who still has a crush on her. I saw her twice in concert way back when, once at CWRU and the other at Blossom. She was a vision onstage in bare feet, with blue jean cutoffs and a white top. I couldn't take my eyes off her.
Here's Linda singing JD Souther's "White Rhythm and Blues".
It's a shame when someone loses the ability to do the things they love to do. Very sad.
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
I left fandom for Linda to others, but I always understood why she was so popular. She had a clean, clear voice- and always sold any song she sang. The Real Deal, for sure.
For me, it's always especially sad to hear of any musician silenced by anything short of death. All of us are born musicians... and the lucky ones get to find their voice for life.
