Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt, Dolly Parton – Trio II

Talking about the first time she harmonized with Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt in 1975, Dolly Parton said, “We all got to singin’ and it was absolutely incredible. It gives me chills, even now.” Given Parton’s remarkable life and career, one would imagine it would take a lot to prompt that reaction, but there’s no false modesty in Dolly’s words. Parton, Harris, and Ronstadt were all splendid vocalists on their own, but they’d also shown a talent for collaborating with others throughout their careers. And when the like-minded women decided to make an album together, they created something rare, a collaboration between three major stars that never smacks of ego. Parton, Harris, and Ronstadt brought out the best in one another on their brilliant 1987 album, Trio, with the group harmonies sounding even more glorious than their lead vocals. (Trio also found Parton and Ronstadt working with better and more flattering material than they’d had on their solo albums in quite a while.) Trio was enough of a success that the singers carved out time in their busy schedules to make another album together, 1999’s Trio II, with similarly impressive results. Ronstadt’s health prevents her from making another Trio album in the 21st century.