“She Could Play Better. She Could Sing Better. She Looked Better.”: The Folk Legend Linda Ronstadt Was Admittedly Threatened By

Even 20th-century superstars, complete with legacies that are still felt today, can get intimidated by other artists. That was the case for the very honest and very talented Linda Ronstadt, who once namedropped an icon in the music industry as “threatening to everybody” during California’s folk music renaissance in the 1970s.

Videos by American Songwriter

The music industry has always been competitive, and more often than not, back in the day, there wasn’t room for everyone to be successful. Ronstadt has been hailed by her contemporaries as one of the kinder figures in the scene, as well as one of the most talented voices in the Americana folk movement of the 1970s. Still, even with that talent, Ronstadt experienced what most musicians do: intimidation and insecurity in the face of competition.

It’s hard to imagine someone as iconic as Linda Ronstadt being intimidated by anyone. However, she gave props where props were due in a New Yorker interview from back in 2019.

Linda Ronstadt Once Said Joni Mitchell Was “Threatening to Everybody” in California’s Music Scene in the 1970s

In the interview, the “You’re No Good” hitmaker was asked about an older interview from 1977 in which she condemned how women were “built up with sex as a weapon” in the media. Elaborating on that, Ronstadt mentioned that, in retrospect, showing up and making music was important for women in the scene. And she namedropped one particular woman who was “threatening to everybody” in the music industry back in the 1970s.

“I have to say that when I look at my whole career, overall, what counted the most was whether you showed up and played the music,” said Ronstadt. “I saw it happen with Emmylou, and I saw it happen with Joni Mitchell. Joni Mitchell was threatening to everybody.”

Ronstadt went on to say that Joni Mitchell was able to do virtually everything you’d expect from a superstar. In turn, Ronstadt shined a light on her friendship with Emmylou Harris.

“[Joni Mitchell] could play better,” said Ronstadt. “She could sing better, she looked better. She could just do it all. But it’s true, there was a certain amount of chauvinism. There weren’t a lot of girls in the business who were doing what I was doing, so my friendship with Emmylou Harris became so important.”

Linda Ronstadt’s comment on Mitchell is firmly rooted in reality. Mitchell really could do it all. And she did it despite often being torn down by misogynistic comments from music journalists at the time. Ronstadt, Mitchell, and Harris really were iconic women of the 1970s!

Photo by Gijsbert Hanekroot/Redferns

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.