1989 Award-Winning Linda Ronstadt Cover Is Still a Beloved Hit 37 Years Later
Originally written and recorded by Barry Mann in 1980, the love song "Don't Know Much"didn't become a famous track until it was covered in 1989 by Linda Ronstadtand Aaron Neville.The song was a part of Ronstadt's album from that same year, Cry Like a Rainstorm, Howl Like the Wind.
Released on September 12th, 1989, "Don't Know Much" peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The track reached the top spot on the Hot Adult Contemporary chart and was certified gold, selling over 900,000 copies in the United States alone. Overseas, the song peaked at number two in the United Kingdom and Australia, and number one in Ireland.
Ronstadt was eager to work with Neville after the pair both performed at the 1984 World's Fair. She was a fan of his voice, saying , "his falsetto is very evocative of that, and that – the Creole tradition – was interesting to me."
Lyrically , "Don't Know Much" is told from the perspective of a couple who are looking back at their lives and relationship, reflecting on how the love they share for each other is really all that they need at the end of the day.
The pair recorded the track and starred in the subsequent music video together. The song eventually won them the Grammy Award for Best Vocal Performance by a Pop Group or Duo. The duo would go on to win the same award for their rendition of "All My Life" in 1990.
Music critics praised "Don't Know Much" for being a "soaring, wide-screen ballad." Additionally, they complimented Ronstadt and Neville's voices and how they blended together. People Magazine stated , "their voices fuse like sunlight beaming through a stained-glass window."
The track became one of the 11 Grammy Wins over the course of Ronstadt's legendary career in the music industry. Like so many of her songs, they continue to be a staple on our playlists even still today.
Related: 1971 Powerful Love Song, Never a No. 1 Hit, Became a Signature Linda Ronstadt Hit
This story was originally published by Parade on Sep 4, 2026, where it first appeared in the Entertainment section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
