Linda Ronstadt

A native of Tucson, Arizona, Linda Ronstadt is one of the most successful recording artists of all time. Raised on a ranch in a family of Mexican and German heritage, Ronstadt credits her family with introducing her to music. Although her influence was Mexican Mariachi and folk songs, Ronstadt became known as the First Lady of Rock. Behind the strength of songs such as "You're No Good," "When Will I Be Loved," and "Blue Bayou," Rolling Stone magazine declared Ronstadt to be "Rock's Venus." She went on to perform on Broadway and in film and she continued to record well into the 21st century.

Ronstadt left home when she was 17 and became part of the band The Stone Poneys in 1966. The group recorded three albums and its biggest hit was "Different Drum." As a solo artist in the early 1970s, Ronstadt recruited Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Randy Meisner, and Bernie Leadon to be part of her touring band. Those four went on to form their own rock band - the Eagles. That decade saw Ronstadt become the highest paid female artist in rock music. The Heart Like a Wheel album, which featured "You're No Good" and "When Will I Be Loved," spent 51 weeks on the Billboard Albums chart. Looking back on her fame and how the media emphasized her sexuality, Ronstadt told the New York Times in 2008 that she was, "somebody else's version of me walking around with my name... it became a strange distortion."

In 1980, Ronstadt stepped away from pop and rock music to star in Gilbert and Sullivan's Pirates of Penzance. She told Newsweek magazine that she was not really a fan of Broadway show tunes and would rather listen to Hank Williams, but she wanted to show another aspect of her personality. She was nominated for a Tony Award in 1981 for her portrayal of Mabel, losing to Lauren Bacall, who starred in Woman of the Year. In 1983, Ronstadt was nominated for a Golden Globe for her performance in the motion picture version of the musical.