Paying tribute to one of her biggest inspirations.
Trisha Yearwood was at the Bluebird Cafe last night for an intimate performance in one of Nashville’s most iconic venues.
But she wasn’t performing her own hits.
The performance, An Evening with Trisha Yearwood: Songbook-Artists and Albums That Lit the Way, was a tribute to one of Trisha’s biggest influences, and one of country music’s leading ladies: Linda Ronstadt.
To honor her musical hero, Trisha played Ronstadt’s entire 1977 album Simple Dreams from start to finish.
The album contains many of Ronstadt’s best-known hits, including her cover of Roy Orbison’s “Blue Bayou,” Warren Zevon’s “Poor, Poor Pitiful Me” and Buddy Holly’s “It’s So Easy.” And there’s also a collaboration with Dolly Parton on “I Never Will Marry,” the traditional ballad that’s been recorded by everyone from the Carter Family to Loretta Lynn.
Simple Dreams spent 5 weeks at the top of the charts after knocking off Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours, and also led to Ronstadt becoming the first female artist to ever have two songs in the top 5 at the same time, with “Blue Bayou” and “It’s So Easy.”
During the performance, Trisha joked that she didn’t have the lyrics with her for the performance – but she needed them last time when she was singing her own songs.
And Trisha has often spoken of her love for Linda Ronstadt over the years, even covering two of Ronstadt’s songs “When Will I Be Loved” and “Try Me Again” on her 2000 album Real Live Woman.
Back in 2019, Trisha was joined by her husband Garth Brooks and R&B legend Aaron Neville to pay tribute to Ronstadt at the 2019 Kennedy Center Honors with performances of “You’re No Good” and “I Don’t Know Much.”
But last night, it seems Trisha stunned the Bluebird Cafe crowd on her own with her personal tribute to Linda Ronstadt.
Trisha also hinted that she may return to the Bluebird to honor some more of her musical heroes – and I think it’s safe to say fans would be all for it.
Here’s Trisha covering “When Will I Be Loved” for a CMT Campfire Session back in 2021:
