At 78, Linda Ronstadt Confesses Why She Broke Up With Mick Jagger | HO!!!!

For decades, the private love life of Linda Ronstadt—one of America’s most celebrated voices—has been the subject of fascination and speculation. Now, at 78, the legendary singer is finally opening up about one of her most surprising chapters: a secret, short-lived romance with Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger.

It was a relationship that burned bright, flamed out fast, and left a mark on both icons. For the first time, Ronstadt is pulling back the curtain on what really happened, why it ended, and how it shaped her journey through fame, heartbreak, and independence.

The Rise of a Reluctant Star

Born July 15, 1946, in Tucson, Arizona, Linda Ronstadt grew up in a family where music was as vital as air. Her father, Gilbert, sang Mexican ballads; her mother, Ruth Mary, played classical piano. By high school, Linda was harmonizing with her siblings and dreaming of a life on stage. In the mid-1960s, she left the University of Arizona and moved to Los Angeles—a bold leap for a 19-year-old woman in a male-dominated industry.

With Bobby Kimmel and Kenny Edwards, she formed The Stone Poneys. Their 1967 hit “Different Drum” introduced Ronstadt’s powerful, emotional voice to the world. After going solo, she struggled through years of small gigs and hard lessons, slowly building a career on her own terms. By 1974, with the release of Heart Like a Wheel, Ronstadt was a star. Her voice soared across genres—country, rock, pop—defying easy categorization and earning her the nickname “The First Lady of Rock.”

Fame, Independence—and a Pattern of Powerful Men
By the late 1970s, Ronstadt was one of the most successful female artists in America. Her albums topped charts, her concerts sold out, and her face graced magazine covers. But behind the scenes, her personal life was a complex tapestry of intense relationships and surprising connections.

She dated music manager John Boylan, California Governor Jerry Brown, songwriter J.D. Souther, comedian Albert Brooks, and even, briefly, actors Bill Murray and Jim Carrey. Each romance played out against a backdrop of relentless touring, creative ambition, and the constant scrutiny of the public eye. Yet Ronstadt remained fiercely independent, determined to never let her love life define her.

Enter Mick Jagger: A Collision of Icons

The late 1970s was an era of excess and experimentation in rock and roll. Ronstadt, at her creative peak, decided to cover the Rolling Stones’ “Tumbling Dice”—a bold move that caught the attention of the Stones themselves. Her bluesy, country-rock version became a hit, and soon, her path crossed more personally with the band’s charismatic frontman.

According to sources close to both, Ronstadt and Jagger’s connection started with mutual musical admiration. “There was a flirtation, sure,” recalls one studio insider. “But it was more than that. They were both at the top of their games, both craving something real in a world full of artifice.”

Their affair began quietly, far from paparazzi and publicists. Jagger, still married to Bianca at the time, would visit Ronstadt at her oceanfront California home. There, the two icons could relax, trade musical ideas, and—briefly—escape the pressures of their respective spotlights.

The Secret Romance

Unlike many of her other relationships, Ronstadt’s time with Jagger was kept strictly private. Friends say the romance was “intense, dramatic, and full of creative energy.” The two would jam together, talk late into the night, and share a chemistry that was as much about music as it was about attraction.

But the secrecy came at a cost. Jagger’s marriage was already strained, and Ronstadt, ever wary of being cast as “the other woman,” struggled with the moral and emotional complications. “Linda was never comfortable with deception,” says a longtime friend. “She valued honesty and transparency—even when it hurt.”

The Breaking Point

The affair reached a tipping point when Bianca Jagger learned of her husband’s visits to Ronstadt’s home. According to those close to the situation, Bianca confronted Mick directly in California. The confrontation was explosive—and final. Ronstadt, unwilling to be the cause of another woman’s pain and unwilling to live in the shadows, ended the relationship.

In her own words, Ronstadt now says, “I realized I wanted something honest. I didn’t want to be a secret or a scandal. I wanted a love that could stand in the daylight.” She confesses that ending things with Jagger was painful but necessary: “Mick was magnetic, but he was also chaos. I needed peace.”

Why She Walked Away

For Ronstadt, the decision to break up with Jagger was about more than just the affair. It was about reclaiming her autonomy in a world that often tried to define her by the men she dated. “I had seen too many women lose themselves in someone else’s story,” she explains. “I wasn’t going to be one of them.”

Her split from Jagger was also a turning point in her career. She doubled down on her music, exploring new genres and collaborating with artists who respected her independence—from Aaron Neville to Dolly Parton and Emmylou Harris. The heartbreak, she says, fueled some of her most passionate performances.

The Aftermath—and the Legacy

Unlike many celebrity breakups, there was no public drama, no tabloid scandal. Ronstadt and Jagger simply went their separate ways. Decades later, both would look back on the relationship with a sense of fondness—and relief.

“I think we both knew it was never going to work long-term,” Ronstadt now admits. “We were too different, and the world we lived in was too crazy. But for a moment, we found something real.”

Jagger, for his part, has never commented publicly on the romance. But those who knew the couple say the respect between them was mutual—and lasting.

A Pattern of Independence

Ronstadt’s willingness to walk away from Jagger was not an isolated event. Throughout her life, she consistently chose her own path, even when it meant leaving behind love, comfort, or stability. Her relationships with John Boylan, Jerry Brown, J.D. Souther, Albert Brooks, Bill Murray, Jim Carrey, George Lucas, and Aaron Neville all followed a similar pattern: intense connection, mutual respect, and, ultimately, a parting of ways that preserved her sense of self.

With George Lucas, she came closest to settling down, even considering marriage—a step she never took. “I loved George,” she says, “but I didn’t want to give up who I was. I was never going to be someone’s wife just because it was expected.”

The Final Word

Now, as she looks back on a life filled with music, love, and hard choices, Ronstadt is at peace with her decisions. Her romance with Mick Jagger, once a closely guarded secret, is now just one chapter in a story defined by courage, creativity, and an unwavering commitment to authenticity.

“I don’t regret any of it,” she says. “Not the heartbreak, not the mistakes, not even the secrets. Every love taught me something. Every goodbye made me stronger.”

In an industry that often demands conformity and sacrifice, Linda Ronstadt’s greatest legacy may be her refusal to be anyone but herself—on stage, in love, and in life.