Linda Ronstadt tells AARP she has Parkinson's
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Linda Ronstadt says she suffers from Parkinson's disease, which has robbed her ability to sing.
The 67-year-old music legend tells AARP Magazine, in an article posted online Friday, that she was diagnosed eight months ago and "can't sing a note."
Ronstadt says she began to show symptoms as long as eight years ago, but attributed her inability to sing then to a tick disease. When her hands began to tremble, Ronstadt said she thought the shaking was the result of a shoulder operation.
She said she was "completely shocked" when she finally saw a neurologist and was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. "I wouldn't have suspected that in a million, billion years.
"No one can sing with Parkinson's disease," Ronstadt told AARP music writer Alanna Nash. "No matter how hard you try."
Ronstadt sold tens of millions of records starting in the 1970s with pop hits like "You're No Good" and "When Will I Be Loved." But she also segued into country, pop standards and mariachi music, among other genres.
In addition, the singer was known for her romances with California Gov. Jerry Brown and filmmaker George Lucas.
Ronstadt now uses poles to walk on uneven ground and a wheelchair when traveling, the AARP story said.
Her autobiography will be released next month, but makes no mention of Parkinson's or the loss of her voice, according to AARP.
The singer's New York-based managers did not immediately respond to requests from The Associated Press for comment.
Two old maids are sitting in the lobby of the old folks home. One asks, "which is worse Parkinson's or Alzheimer's". Her friend responds, "I'd rather have Parkinson's. Better to spill a little wine instead of forgetting where I put it.".
In my DD blog Posted on: 06/26/2013 “To Marry or not to Marry... An interesting question after ‘DD Day’ (Death of DOMA)” I wrote, ‘...Wait until you both can see if living together is the same as living a life together. If your tastes in sex changes independently from each other, is that going to change your feelings for your spouse? If so, DO NOT DO IT! Consider this fact... Nature is most likely not going to treat the two of you equally.’ This should explain my opinion on this specific issue.
There are different levels of Parkinson’s tremors. Check out the Mark Morris Dance Company’s program on the disease “Dance for PD®” <http://danceforparkinsons.org/> Some people are in wheelchairs. Some found ways to cover up the cosmetic effects. None of them have given up to become shuttering stereotypes, a reality that is currently the norm. Michael J. Fox, Bob Hoskins, Janet Reno, (I believe it is correct to add in James Levine)... to name a very few are living with the syndrome, and continue to live fully even if that life has major built in obstacles.
I am proud of my spouse and I have not at all lost my love for him. The drugs required to hold back the progression of his condition and the condition itself caused changes in our relationship. We are adults who don’t live in a world of ‘Poor Me.’ We adjust and change to be the same. I hope Ronstadt is strong enough to do likewise.