Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
Woman's World
Trio: How Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt Became the Ultimate Supergroup
By Abbey Bender,
2 days ago
Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt were three of the most gifted singers of the '60s and '70s, and in the '80s, these three women combined their powers when they formed a supergroup, simply called Trio.
Trio released their self-titled album in 1987, and it topped the Billboard Country chart and won a Grammy for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal. In 1999, they released their second and final album, Trio II .
Here's a look back at how Trio came to be and why they remain one of the greatest supergroups.
As women in a music scene that was still largely dominated by men, Parton, Harris and Ronstadt had long expressed mutual admiration for each other, and there wasn't any competition among the singers as one might expect.
The three women first sang together in 1975, and as Harris recalled, "The sound that we made together surprised and astonished the three of us." As soon as their voices came together in gorgeous harmony, they knew they had something special, and they began working on an album in 1979. This first effort ultimately fizzled out, but in the '80s, as their schedules and creative interests aligned, they finally got back into the studio and made magic happen.
The songs are all carried by the singers' dreamy harmonies, and while they made it sound effortless, collaborating wasn't always easy. As Parton amusingly said, "Linda is such a perfectionist. She’s a pain in the ass sometimes because she is such a perfectionist . She will not have it unless it’s perfect. She used to make me sing those harmonies over and over and over."
Rondstadt may have been a perfectionist, but she didn't have an ego, and part of what makes Trio stand out is how it was a true collaboration, with no one singer dominating the songs. Each woman brought her own distinct vibe, while also being game to be part of a whole, with three voices singing as one. Parton described the experience of singing with Harris and Ronstadt as being "like a high like you’ve never felt."
Trio was a hit, and it had crossover appeal thanks to its A-list performers and eclectic song selection. The album's low-key, vocal-centric production set it apart from much of the music that was popular in the '80s, and Ronstadt felt that many listeners misunderstand the album, saying, "I don’t think anybody liked the idea of three women singers . I don’t think anybody liked the idea of us not being in a niche. It wasn’t rock’n’roll, it wasn’t country, it wasn’t this, it wasn’t that. It was old-timey music."
Trio band reunion: Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt and Dolly Parton in 2019 Lester Cohen/Getty for The Recording Academy
The musical sisterhood of Trio still endures over 35 years later, and Parton, Harris and Ronstadt remain friends to this day. The fact that the group couldn't be put into a box made their combined talents all the more potent. After all, when you have three women who sing that beautifully, the harmonies truly speak for themselves.
Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
Welcome to NewsBreak, an open platform where diverse perspectives converge. Most of our content comes from established publications and journalists, as well as from our extensive network of tens of thousands of creators who contribute to our platform. We empower individuals to share insightful viewpoints through short posts and comments. It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency: our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. We strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation. Join us in shaping the news narrative together.
Comments / 0