THE DAY AMERICA’S SWEETHEART BROKE THE RULES. They thought Linda Ronstadt would always stay the same — soft voice, tender songs, the country girl everyone adored. But one night in 1980, she stepped on stage and something changed. The lights hit her face, the crowd cheered, and when she opened her mouth — it wasn’t a melody anymore, it was a storm. Her voice tore through the speakers, wild and electric, leaving even her band staring in disbelief. Some said she’d gone too far. Others whispered she’d finally found herself. No one knew the song that night would divide fans, redefine her career, and turn “America’s sweetheart” into something untamed. All they knew was this — Linda didn’t just sing anymore. She erupted.
They called her America’s sweetheart — that soft, angelic voice that once wrapped every broken heart in velvet. But in…