Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice
directed by Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman
starring Linda Ronstadt, Peter Asher, Karla Bonoff, Jackson Browne, Ry Cooder, Cameron Crowe, David Geffen, Emmylou Harris, Don Henley, Dolly Parton, Bonnie Raitt, J.D. Souther
Greenwich Entertainment / CNN Films
Her voice was like that of an angel. Her records, magical and timeless. Simply put, Linda Ronstadt is a living legend — an artist who defined and defied musical genres from the late 1960s through the early 2000s. In the process, she blazed a trail for her contemporaries, as well as for aspiring future female artists.
When Ronstadt’s larger-than-life story, The Sound of My Voice, first arrived in theaters back in 2019, I gleefully ventured out nearly an hour south of my cozy Cocoa Beach condo to catch the biopic on the big screen. Recently, I revisited the film on one of the convenient, popular home streaming platforms to see if it still packed the same punch, five years later.
Directed by Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman, The Sound of My Voice opens with fabulous aerial footage shot over Mexico — the homeland of Ronstadt’s ancestors. The marvelous-looking intro suggests the mighty scope of Ronstadt’s amazing story, hooking me immediately and keeping me reeled in for the next 95 minutes.
Most of Ronstadt’s superstar achievements are known widely even among casual admirers: chart-busting singles, platinum-selling albums, sold-out concert tours, steamy magazine covers, captivating TV appearances, and even a couple of high-profile romances. However, the film’s payoff comes through Ronstadt’s less-known back story — intimate accounts, shared by Ronstadt herself, of growing up in a home filled with eclectic music and an early desire to pursue her musical passion.
Based on Ronstadt’s bestselling 2013 memoir, Simple Dreams (Simon & Schuster), the film bursts with WOW factor. The rarely, if not never-before-seen vintage concert footage perfectly captures all the fire and fury of the Daisy Duke-donned diva live on stage during the white-hot apex of her career.
Additional payoff is provided through the personal reflections offered from the friends and family members who know Ronstadt best. And the list of her musical colleagues offering first-hand insights reads like the guest list from an all-night banger at Joe Walsh’s Aspen chalet, circa ‘78 — legendary VIPs include Dolly Parton, Karla Bonoff, Bonnie Raitt, Emmylou Harris, Ry Cooder, Jackson Browne, Don Henley, and J.D. Souther, as well as record mogul David Geffen, renowned producer Peter Asher, and acclaimed journalist and filmmaker Cameron Crowe.
Ronstadt’s tale is a riveting roller coaster ride — from her meteoric rise to superstardom to her career-ending battle with Parkinson’s disease. During one relatively recent interview clip, she drops her hand out of frame, seemingly to conceal her involuntary shaking from the camera. Heartbreaking, to be sure.
So, was The Sound of My Voice worth visiting and then revisiting years later? You betcha! While I realize it’s rather tired terminology, the film truly is a “must-see,” especially for die-hard enthusiasts. In fact, I would echo the Hollywood Reporter endorsement wholeheartedly: “The Sound of My Voice will make you fall in love with Linda Ronstadt all over again!”
