First Lady Linda Ronstadt

Photograph of Linda Ronstadt between a Democratic donkey symbol and the number 80 with black text on the top and bottom edges on a white background

Linda Ronstadt met Jerry Brown in 1971. At the time, he was California's Secretary of State, and her career in music had not yet made her famous. By 1975, Ronstadt's album "Heart Like a Wheel" was climbing the charts.  Brown announced his candidacy for President of the United States in March 1976. His bid for the presidency was unsuccessful, but in November 1979, he announced he would again seek the Democratic nomination in 1980. Ronstadt performed several benefit concerts for Brown, and the public began referring to her as the First Lady. Brown ended his campaign on April 1, 1980. Although the two were occasionally seen together in the early 1980s, they eventually parted ways.