Linda Ronstadt has Parkinson's Disease

Brian Mansfield, Special for USA TODAY 6:20 p.m. EDT August 23, 2013

The Grammy-winning singer revealed her condition to AARP Friday.

Parkinson's Disease has left Linda Ronstadt unable to sing.

The 67-year-old singer, who will publish her memoir, Simple Dreams, next month, revealed her condition Friday in an interview with AARP.

The singer of such '70s and '80s hits as You're No Good, Hurt So Bad and Don't Know Much now uses poles to assist her when walking on uneven ground and travels with a wheelchair. She says she was diagnosed with the neurological disorder eight months ago, though she began experiencing symptoms, including hand tremors and trouble controlling the muscles that let her sing, several years ago. She says she initially attributed her problems to the residual effects of a tick bite and shoulder surgery.

"I think I've had it for seven or eight years already, because of the symptoms that I've had," the 11-time Grammy winner tells interviewer Alanna Nash. Ronstadt's last album was 2006's Adieu False Heart with Cajun musician Ann Savoy.

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



http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2013/08/23/linda-ronstadt-parkinsons-disease/2694053/






Dan

:(

Oh, this is so awful!  What an awesome woman with an amazing gift!  They just don't make 'em like Linda anymore.  :\'(

Man that's so sad, she's been singing for 35 years and she had a beautiful voice.  :(

Sad news to hear, but remember Michael J Fox has Parkinson's Disease and his film career has continued by using only his voice.

This is very sad news for me.
Not only do I love her songs, I also think she has one of the most beautiful voices I have ever heard in my life. If she were 25 to 30 years old today, she would dominate any artist. I really can't think of any female singer over the last 50 years who has a nicer voice than hers.

I also think she was one of the most beautiful women who ever walked our planet, back in the 60s and 70s when she was famous.

:\'(

"No one can sing with Parkinson's disease," Ronstadt told AARP music writer Alanna Nash. "No matter how hard you try."

"Ronstadt now uses poles to walk on uneven ground and a wheelchair when traveling, the AARP story said."

She was my #1 female rock star crush of the 1970s.  This news has made me very sad. 

This is very sad news, she was one of the best female artist ever. :\'(

http://cf.sketchfu.com/i/232621.png

Sad news to hear, but remember Michael J Fox has Parkinson's Disease and his film career has continued by using only his voice.


I know, he was trying to keep his shaking under control. :(

This is really sad, just awful.

And I don't know much about Parkinson's Disease but I'm hoping there is some kind of treatment for it.

This is very sad news to me.  I really like her singing. The 1982 album Get Closer is still one of my all-time favourites.  I still listen to it often!


Man that's so sad, she's been singing for 35 years and she had a beautiful voice.  :(


She's been singing longer than that. 

"No one can sing with Parkinson's disease,"

My brother has Parkinson's Syndrome and he sings quite well.

However there is a technical note here.  There is no lab test for Parkinson's disease.  The doctors do not really know that Ms. Ronstadt has Parkinson's disease.  All they can diagnose is Parkinson's syndrome and strongly suspect the disease itself.

A positive diagnosis of the disease can only be done via autopsy.  For example, to this day it is not known if Mohammed Ali has Parkinson's Disease per se, or "boxing-related parkinsonism".

:(

Her music was a little bit before my time, but I enjoyed listening to quite a few of her songs. Sad news to hear.

Very sad news :(

Not really one of her most well-known songs, but I love this one

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gn1zpAWbC6Q

Yeah, it's really sad news.  Such a beautiful voice and a dynamic performer.  Heck, she even worked with one of my favorite composers, Philip Glass! 

The God-given gifts we get don't last forever.  We're all mortal.  Sooner or later our bodies breakdown and we die.  Linda does have a giant catalog of recorded works we can enjoy for a lifetime to come.

This is really sad, just awful.

And I don't know much about Parkinson's Disease but I'm hoping there is some kind of treatment for it.



I certainly hope so.

Yeah, it's really sad news.  Such a beautiful voice and a dynamic performer.  Heck, she even worked with one of my favorite composers, Philip Glass! 

The God-given gifts we get don't last forever.  We're all mortal.  Sooner or later our bodies breakdown and we die.  Linda does have a giant catalog of recorded works we can enjoy for a lifetime to come.


I think she also worked with Aaron Neville too If I can recall? ???

Yeah, it's really sad news.  Such a beautiful voice and a dynamic performer.  Heck, she even worked with one of my favorite composers, Philip Glass! 

The God-given gifts we get don't last forever.  We're all mortal.  Sooner or later our bodies breakdown and we die.  Linda does have a giant catalog of recorded works we can enjoy for a lifetime to come.


Plus she was SMOKIN hot back in the day.  :P

Plus she was SMOKIN hot back in the day.  :P


She sure was, LB, she sure was!

http://userserve-ak.last.fm/serve/_/35554279/Linda+Ronstadt.jpg

She sure was, LB, she sure was!

http://userserve-ak.last.fm/serve/_/39854115/Linda+Ronstadt+LindaRonstadt.jpg

http://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/1881c4fd74aaa325606197e939a88fa36f154148/c=0-181-1884-1593&r=490x368/local/-/media/USATODAY/test/2013/08/23/1377296527000-AP-People-Linda-Ronstadt.jpg

This is her now.

I hope one day she gets into the rock and roll hall of fame. Donna Summer and Madonna, 2 people who have NOTHING TO DO WITH ROCK AND ROLL are in. C'mon hall of fame, wake up.

I hope one day she gets into the rock and roll hall of fame. Donna Summer and Madonna, 2 people who have NOTHING TO DO WITH ROCK AND ROLL are in. C'mon hall of fame, wake up.


She deserves it. :)

Linda's interview with Diane Sawyer, Sept 13th, talks about her parkinson's.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BarcIuIEsKk

Linda's interview with Diane Sawyer, Sept 13th, talks about her parkinson's.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BarcIuIEsKk


very nice.