It’s no surprise that Dolly Parton has worked with some of the most iconic voices in country music throughout her career, including Loretta Lynn and Tammy Wynette. However, one of her most celebrated collaborations is with Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris. The trio, known for their harmonies and strong friendship, released an album that would go down in history as one of the most successful collaborative albums in country music.
COUNTRY MUSIC STORIES
Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt, and Emmylou Harris had been friends for years before they finally managed to come together to record an album. Their first attempt at working on a project together was in the mid-‘70s, but due to scheduling conflicts and issues with different record labels, they were unable to produce a full album. Despite these setbacks, the trio’s attempt to record together wasn’t entirely in vain. Some of the material from those 1970s sessions found its way into solo recordings. For instance, “Mr. Sandman” and “Evangeline” appeared on Harris’ 1981 album Evangeline, while Parton’s song “My Blue Tears” was featured on Ronstadt’s 1982 album Get Closer. Over the years, the three artists continued to cover each other’s songs and support one another’s musical endeavors.
TRIO – Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt, and Emmylou Harris
Finally, in 1987, the dream collaboration of Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt, and Emmylou Harris became a reality. The album, Trio, was produced by George Massenburg and released on March 2, 1987, under the Warner Bros. recording label. It marked the first collaborative studio album for the three artists, and it was an immediate success. The Trio album went on to become a No. 1 hit on the country charts, further cementing the trio’s legendary status in country music history.
The album featured four hit singles, with songs like “To Know Him Is to Love Him” and “Those Memories of You” becoming anthems for fans of traditional country and folk music. Parton, Ronstadt, and Harris’ harmonies were praised for their emotional depth and the way they blended their individual styles into a seamless and magical sound. The success of Trio helped to showcase the vocal chemistry between the three women, who had all established themselves as solo artists prior to the album’s release.
Trio remains a monumental achievement in the careers of Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt, and Emmylou Harris, representing not just their talent as individual artists but also the beauty of their collaborative work. This album is still celebrated as one of the best collaborations in country music, showcasing the artistry, friendship, and mutual respect these three icons had for one another.
If you’d like to dive deeper into the making of Trio, the impact of the album, or the remarkable careers of Parton, Ronstadt, and Harris, feel free to ask!