Linda Ronstadt Honors Dolly Parton: 'A Poorer Place Without Her'
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- Linda Ronstadt posted a rare public statement on her Facebook page mourning Dolly Parton, calling the world 'a poorer place without her' and calling recording with her 'one of the most extraordinary musical experiences of my life.'
- Ronstadt, Emmylou Harris, and Parton recorded the Grammy-winning 1987 album Trio, which featured three-part harmonies, and followed it up twelve years later with Trio II.
- The Complete Trio Collection, an expanded compilation including previously unreleased tracks from the sessions, was released in 2016.
- The three singers first performed together in 1976 on Parton's syndicated TV series Dolly, singing 'The Sweetest Gift' and the Carter Family's 'Bury Me Under the Weeping Willow' — a full decade before Trio.
- Ronstadt retired from performing in 2011 due to progressive supranuclear palsy, a neurodegenerative condition that has left her unable to sing.
Why it matters: Ronstadt rarely makes public comments, and her statement — from a singer who can no longer perform due to progressive supranuclear palsy — adds a personal dimension to the wave of tributes for Parton, whose death at 80 is dominating entertainment coverage. The note underscores the Trio-era collaborations that connected three generations of country and folk vocalists.
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