Explore Linda Ronstadt’s romances with George Lucas, Jerry Brown, Jim Carrey and more

Linda Ronstadt in 1982 Aaron Rapoport/Corbis/Getty

As one of the most successful singers of the ’70s, Linda Ronstadt didn’t just top the charts and sell out arenas—she also became a cultural icon and sex symbol, and her personal life was subject to much scrutiny by the media.

Over five decades after she hit the scene, the “You’re No Good” singer still fascinates thanks to her gorgeous vocals and boho style.

While countless men were in love with Ronstadt (there’s even a quote attributed to Willie Nelson that goes, “There are two kinds of men in this world.

Those with a crush on Linda Ronstadt and those who never heard of her”) she famously never married, though she had a variety of high-profile relationships during her time in the public eye. Here’s a look at who she dated and what she had to say about choosing to ultimately embrace single life.

Linda Ronstadt’s musical love life

Linda Ronstadt came up in the male-dominated folk scene of the late ’60s and early ’70s, and unsurprisingly she had relationships with some of her musical peers.

In 1970 she dated producer John Boylan, who worked on some of her early albums and helped launch her into the spotlight.

Boylan also briefly served as Ronstadt’s manager during the early days of her career, although they parted ways after a few years.

In the ‘00s, they reconnected professionally, and Boylan produced two more of her albums and became her manager once again. In a great example of exes being able to keep professionally cordial, he remains her manager to this day.

Looking back at their romantic relationship in 1975, she said, “It was very unhealthy, and it went on for a couple of years.”

Linda Ronstadt and John Boylan in 2020Michael Kovac/Getty for AARP
After Boylan, Ronstadt dated musician J.D. Souther. Souther, who passed away this year, wrote many of Ronstadt’s songs, performed with her and produced one of her albums.

Souther also helped form the Eagles, as they were originally Ronstadt’s backing band, and he collaborated with them on a variety of songs, though he wasn’t an official member.

Recalling the early days of their relationship, Souther said, “I said, ‘I think you should cook me dinner.’

She said okay and gave me her phone number. I went over and she made me a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and I fell in love with her. The next day I said ‘Listen, let’s go get your stuff, you’re going to live with me.’”

Linda Ronstadt and J.D. Souther in 1981Koh Hasebe/Shinko Music/Getty
In the late ’80s, Ronstadt dated another one of her musical collaborators, Aaron Neville, with whom she duetted on a number of hit songs. Entertainment Weekly proclaimed them “the First Couple of pop music.”

Linda Ronstadt onstage with Aaron Neville in 1990David Redfern/Redferns/Getty
Throughout her career, there were also a lot of rumors around Ronstadt’s dating life, and she was linked to rock gods like Mick Jagger, Robert Plant and more, though it’s hard to separate fact from fiction when it comes to these affairs.

Linda Ronstadt and Mick Jagger in 1978Lynn Goldsmith/Corbis/VCG via Getty

Relationships outside of the music world

After breaking up with Souther, Ronstadt then dated comedian, actor and director Albert Brooks, who she called “the nicest person I’ve known.”

Ronstadt clearly had a thing for funny men, as she went on a few dates with Steve Martin in the early ’70s (he recalled being so intimidated by her that she asked him, “Steve, do you often date girls and not try to sleep with them?”) She was then briefly linked to Bill Murray in the ’80s and dated none other than Jim Carrey before he was famous. As Carrey recalled, “We were together for about eight months. She was an absolutely incredible human being.”

Linda Ronstadt and Albert Brooks in the ’70s@jonwurster/Instagram
Ronstadt’s highest profile non-music world relationship by far was with Governor of California and 1976 Democratic presidential candidate Jerry Brown. Because of the unexpected nature of the musician-politician pairing, and the fact that both parties were stars in their fields, Ronstadt and Brown were frequently photographed and covered by the media.

Linda Ronstadt and Jerry Brown in 1979Bettmann/Getty
While some people thought it was unusual that Ronstadt would date a politician, she welcomed having a change of pace from the rockers she was used to, saying, “Jerry Brown and I had a lot of fun for a number of years. He was smart and funny, not interested in drinking or drugs, and lived his life carefully, with a great deal of discipline. This was different from a lot of men I knew in rock and roll. I found it a relief.”

Linda Ronstadt and Jerry Brown in 1979Express/Pictorial Parade/Archive Photos/Getty
In the ’80s, Ronstadt found herself in another odd couple when she dated Star Wars director George Lucas. Ronstadt and Lucas tried to keep their relationship private and avoided being photographed together, though they dated for five years.

At one point they were engaged, but they ultimately broke it off. The couple didn’t talk about one another in the press, but in 1984, People reported an associate of Ronstadt saying, “He will have more fun than he’s ever had in his life. Then she will break his heart into thousands of pieces and go on to someone else.”

Why Linda Ronstadt never married

Though she came close in her long-term relationships with Brown (who thought being married to a celebrity might damage his chances in running for president) and Lucas, Ronstadt never married, and is known for taking pride in her single lady status.

As she described it in a 2013 interview, “I think that the culture supports serial monogamy. And I think I had plenty of that. And I think I was reasonably monogamous in a serial way.

But I’m not a good compromiser. I think I don’t have a knack for the kind of compromise. I admire people’s marriages, and I think it’s a wonderful thing to have. But I don’t think it’s the only way to live.

I think there are many ways to live and many ways to establish intimate support in your life that can be from family or friends or a great roommate that you like. You know, it doesn’t have to be someone you’re sleeping with. I figured that out pretty early on, and that was sort of how I felt. I was trying to sing. I was never trying to get married.”

Linda Ronstadt in 1982Aaron Rapoport/Corbis/Getty
In 2019, Ronstadt said, “I was not cut out for marriage. I used to dream that I was gonna get married, and I’d go, ‘I’m too young to get married.’

And this was when I was, like, 45, you know? And I’d go, ‘I can’t get married. I’m too young.’ So I guess that means I’m just really immature!” That same year, she gave an apt example of why her inability to compromise made her a poor candidate for marriage, saying, “I have no talent for it.

Not a shred. I don’t like to compromise. If I want a pink sofa and somebody doesn’t want a pink sofa, I’m not going to go for that. I want the pink sofa.” You have to respect a woman who knows what works for her and isn’t afraid to speak out against conventional wisdom.

Even though Ronstadt never married, she did become a mother, adopting her daughter, Mary, in 1990 and her son, Carlos, in 1994.

After years of touring and not settling down, Ronstadt was determined to give her children as down-to-earth a life as possible, and she even revealed, “My daughter didn’t know that I sang in English until she was about 6. She had only heard me sing in Spanish.”

Linda Ronstadt in 1995, shortly after she became a motherLester Cohen/Getty
Today, Mary and Carlos are fully grown, and they still live close to their famous mom and have been crucial sources of support and joy as she’s battled progressive supranuclear palsy, the disease that tragically forced her to retire in 2011.

With her refusal to compromise and her decision to become a single mom later in life, Linda Ronstadt has forged a personal life that’s just as bold as her music.

What is your favorite Linda Ronstadt song?