'Queen of Country Rock' Became a Hitmaking Powerhouse That Defined a Generation of Music
The "Queen of Country Rock" built a career filled with hit singles that helped shape the sound of a generation and cement her lasting legacy in music history.
According to the Country Music Hall of Fame, Linda Ronstadt is often referred to by the nickname "The Queen of Country Rock." The title underscores her impact on country rock and her enduring legacy as a trailblazing artist.
Ronstadt had 10 songs in the Billboard Country Top 10 from 1974 through 1988. Her longest-charting No. 1 is a cover of 1987's "To Know Him is to Love Him" alongside Dolly Parton and Emmylou Harris. Also a No. 1 hit is 1975's "When Will I Be Loved."
Following, the singer hit No. 2 with "Blue Bayou" in 1977 and "I Can't Help It (If I'm Still In Love With You)" in 1974. She ranked No. 3 with another collaboration with Parton and Harris, 1987's "Those Memories of You." In succession are "Love is a Rose" (1975), "Wildflowers" (1988), "Crazy" (1976), and "I Never Will Marry" (1978), which round out her Top 10 hits.
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The Country Music Hall of Fame wrote, "In the 1970s, Linda earned the nickname 'Queen of Country-Rock' for her country-rock music. Later in her career, she leaned into her Mexican heritage and released albums of Spanish-language music that she grew up hearing from her father. The versatility and talent shown by Linda have cemented her as one of the most successful and influential vocalists of our time."
According to American Songwriter, Ronstadt's 1969 album, Hand Sown … Home Grown, is considered "the very first alternative country album to be released by a woman."
Ronstadt's 1974 breakthrough LP Heart Like a Wheel cemented her place in music history. Around the same time, she also worked closely with future members of The Eagles, who went on to become one of the decade's biggest bands in their own right. She would eventually put her own spin on their 1973 hit "Desperado."
In an interview with ROUTE Magazine, Ronstadt recalled her first big hit, "Different Drum" with The Stone Poneys. The song was written by Monkees member Michael Nesmith.
"I had first heard it as a bluegrass song on a Greenbriar Boys album and just thought that it was a hit song. So, we recorded it, but it wasn't the song that it could be," she explained.
"So, the record company said that they wanted to recut it. They recut it with the strings and harpsichord, and I was fairly horrified. I went, 'We can't do this!' But it was a hit. I was wrong."
In 1978, The New York Times writer Ed Ward named Ronstadt, Joni Mitchell, Carly Simon, and Stevie Nicks as the Queens of Rock. She responded, "All I've done in my music is acknowledge that I've been hurt. I've been crippled, but I'm still walking."
Additionally, she told ROUTE that it still surprised her how much her music resonated with listeners. She replied, "Well, it wasn't something that I was trying to do. I was just trying to find songs that I could sing."
Linda Ronstadt retired from the music business in 2011, bringing an end to a remarkable run of chart successes. Yet her catalog remains a beloved part of the American songbook, as her music continues to resonate with listeners decades later.
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This story was originally published June 18, 2026 at 11:05 AM.