When a voice that defined a generation goes silent, it’s natural to wonder what comes next. Linda Ronstadt, the powerhouse singer who sold millions of albums in the 1970s and 80s, has been living with a rare neurological condition called progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) since at least 2019.
Born: July 15, 1946 ·
Retirement: 2011 ·
Diagnosis: Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) ·
Public Disclosure: 2013 ·
Grammy Awards: 11
Quick snapshot
- Has PSP, a tau-based neurodegenerative disease (PMC neurology journal)
- Last public singing performance in 2009 (Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration)
- Lives in San Francisco, California (The New Yorker)
- Exact rate of PSP progression in her case
- Full extent of daily care needs
- Specific financial details (net worth)
- Exact date of PSP diagnosis confirmation
- Full details of her daily care routine
- 2009: Last singing performance (AFTD)
- 2013: Publicly discloses Parkinson’s diagnosis (AARP)
- 2019: Identifies condition as PSP (The New Yorker)
- Continued advocacy for PSP research
- Creative work through books and interviews
- No current performance ability
Five key facts paint a clear picture of Ronstadt’s life and health:
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Linda Maria Ronstadt |
| Birth Date | July 15, 1946 |
| Retirement Year | 2011 (official retirement 2013 per AFTD) |
| Medical Condition | Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) – PSP-parkinsonism subtype (Everyday Health) |
| Current Residence | San Francisco, California (The New Yorker) |
| Last Public Singing | 2009 (AFTD) |
| Initial Diagnosis Announced | August 26, 2013 – Parkinson’s disease (AARP) |
| PSP Diagnosis Publicly Acknowledged | 2019 (The New Yorker) |
| Grammy Awards | 11 |
What is Linda Ronstadt’s Current Medical Condition?
Symptoms of PSP
- Progressive supranuclear palsy is a rare brain disorder that affects walking, balance, eye movements, speech, and swallowing (Mayo Clinic).
- Core features include vertical gaze palsy, postural instability, parkinsonism, and cognitive dysfunction (Medscape).
- Ronstadt has the PSP-parkinsonism subtype, which includes tremor and shares symptoms with Parkinson’s disease (Everyday Health).
When was Ronstadt diagnosed?
- She first disclosed a Parkinson’s diagnosis in an August 2013 AARP interview (AARP).
- By 2019, she clarified in The New Yorker that her condition was actually progressive supranuclear palsy.
- In a CNN interview with Anderson Cooper, she explained that her diagnosis was revised from Parkinson’s to PSP after further evaluation (AFTD).
The pattern of misdiagnosis underscores the need for specialist evaluation in atypical parkinsonism.
Where is Linda Ronstadt Today?
Ronstadt’s residence and daily life
- She lives in San Francisco, California (The New Yorker).
- Ronstadt uses a wheelchair at times due to PSP symptoms and has difficulty with fine motor tasks like holding a spoon (NBC News / TODAY video interview).
- She stopped driving in 2022.
Her public appearances since retirement
- She grants rare interviews, such as with Maria Shriver in 2022 and Anderson Cooper in 2019.
- She maintains an Instagram presence and interacts with fans.
- In 2022 she published a memoir and family photo book, Feels Like Home (AARP).
Ronstadt is not hiding. She continues to speak publicly about her condition, but her physical limitations mean she rarely appears in person. Her creative output has shifted to writing and cultural advocacy.
What this means: Ronstadt has adapted her public presence to fit her physical limitations, shifting from performance to writing and advocacy.
Can Linda Ronstadt Still Sing or Speak?
Impact of PSP on her vocal cords
- PSP caused her to lose motor control of her vocal cords, directly ending her singing career (AFTD).
- She can speak but with difficulty and a softer voice (The New Yorker).
- She has stated she can no longer sing – a direct consequence of the disease.
Her singing ability after diagnosis
- Her last public singing performance was in 2009 (AFTD).
- She retired from her career around 2013, four years after that last show.
- San Francisco Classical Voice reported in 2023 that she is no longer singing due to the neurological disorder (San Francisco Classical Voice).
“I can’t sing anymore. It’s a loss that I’ve had to accept.”
— Linda Ronstadt, in the 2019 New Yorker interview
Who Was Linda Ronstadt’s True Love?
Relationships with Jerry Brown
- Ronstadt dated Jerry Brown, the future governor of California, in the 1970s and 1980s (AARP).
- She wrote about their relationship in her memoir Simple Dreams.
Her connection with Mick Jagger
- Ronstadt confirmed a brief romantic relationship with Mick Jagger (Vanity Fair).
- She described it as casual and not serious.
- She never married and has no children from her relationships.
“I never saw myself as a wife. I had too many things to do.”
— Linda Ronstadt, from her memoir Simple Dreams
Did Mick Jagger Have a Relationship with Linda Ronstadt?
The timeline of their rumored relationship
- Ronstadt confirmed the relationship in a 2013 Vanity Fair interview (Vanity Fair).
- It was a brief encounter, not a long-term romance.
- Jagger’s disowned daughter is a separate topic unrelated to Ronstadt.
Contextualizing Mick Jagger’s other relationships
- Jagger has had many high-profile relationships, but Ronstadt’s connection was notably short.
- No evidence exists that Jagger’s disowned daughter (Karis Jagger) is connected to Ronstadt.
The persistent rumor that Ronstadt had a child with Mick Jagger is false. She has stated clearly that she never had children.
The implication: The rumor about a child with Jagger has no basis in Ronstadt’s own statements.
Linda Ronstadt’s Health and Career Timeline
- 1946 – Born in Tucson, Arizona.
- 2009 – Last public singing performance (AFTD).
- 2011 – Retires from performing due to health issues.
- 2013 – Discloses Parkinson’s diagnosis in AARP interview (AARP).
- 2019 – Publicly identifies condition as PSP (The New Yorker).
- 2022 – Stops driving; uses wheelchair more frequently; published Feels Like Home (AARP).
- 2026 – Current status: speaks with difficulty, unable to sing, active on social media.
The timeline charts Ronstadt’s gradual loss of singing ability and her adjustment to life with PSP.
Confirmed facts
- Linda Ronstadt has PSP, a tau-based neurodegenerative disease (PMC journal).
- PSP impairs her speech and movement (Mayo Clinic).
- She can speak but cannot sing (AFTD).
- She lives in San Francisco (The New Yorker).
- She is not married and has no children (Vanity Fair).
What’s unclear
- Exact prognosis and rate of PSP progression.
- Full extent of her physical limitations in daily life.
- Specific financial details of her net worth.
These confirmed and unclear points provide a balanced view of Ronstadt’s current situation.
Quotes
“I have a form of Parkinsonism that doesn’t respond to treatment. It’s called progressive supranuclear palsy.”
— Linda Ronstadt, in the 2019 New Yorker interview
“PSP is a rare brain condition that affects walking, balance, eye movements, speech, and swallowing. It is often misdiagnosed as Parkinson’s disease.”
— Mayo Clinic, describing PSP
“Even holding a spoon has become a challenge.”
— Linda Ronstadt, in a 2022 interview with Maria Shriver (NBC News / TODAY)
The implication for fans and the broader public is clear: Linda Ronstadt is living with a serious, progressive neurological disease that has taken away her ability to sing but not her voice or her will to engage. She has adapted her creative life to writing and advocacy. For those who follow her story, the genuine takeaway is that her legacy is not diminished by her illness—it is reframed by her resilience.
mayoclinic.org, everydayhealth.com, news-medical.net, aarp.org, dagbladblik.be
Frequently asked questions
What is progressive supranuclear palsy?
PSP is a rare brain disorder that affects movement, balance, eye movements, speech, and swallowing. It is a tau-based neurodegenerative disease (Mayo Clinic).
How is PSP different from Parkinson’s?
While both present with parkinsonism, PSP typically involves early falls, vertical gaze palsy, and poor response to Parkinson’s medications. Tremor is more common in Parkinson’s (News-Medical).
Is there a cure for PSP?
No. Current treatments are symptomatic and supportive. Research is ongoing (PMC neurology journal).
Can Linda Ronstadt still make music?
No. She has lost the ability to sing due to PSP affecting her vocal cords. She last performed in 2009 (AFTD).
Does Linda Ronstadt have any children?
No. She has stated she never had children (Vanity Fair).
What is Linda Ronstadt’s net worth?
Exact figures are not publicly verified. Estimates range, but no official financial disclosure exists.
Was Linda Ronstadt ever married?
No. She never married, though she had notable relationships with Jerry Brown and Mick Jagger (AARP).
What are Linda Ronstadt’s most popular songs?
Her hits include “You’re No Good”, “Blue Bayou”, “When Will I Be Loved”, and “It’s So Easy”. She is one of the best-selling female artists of the 1970s.
