Linda Ronstadt's ability to sing was affected by a neurological condition called progressive supranuclear palsy, but that hasn't taken away her love of singing. The 77-year-old opened up in an interview for Today about how she still manages to find song in her life.
"I can sing in my brain," she said. "It's not quite the same." She then went on to explain that she doesn't always end up singing the song she'd like to. "Sometimes I choose the song and sometimes my brain chooses the song."
"My brain chooses the worst music," she joked. "Blares away in my head, like um, really bad Christmas carols." The well-known First Lady of Rock was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2013. Not long after, she learned that she in fact had the Parkinson’s-like disorder, progressive supranuclear palsy.
Per the Mayo Clinic, the condition is caused by the deterioration of brain cells that control thinking, movement, and coordination. It mimics many of the symptoms of Parkinson’s and dementia, and they tend to worsen over time.
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Fans flooded the comments with love and support for the singer.
"Linda had one of the most beautiful voices," one person wrote. "I still listen to her music. And she's still a beauty!!"
Another user commented, "I hope that she knows how loved she is by her fans.️"
