Linda Ronstadt became one of the leading voices of country rock in the 1970s, but she credited fellow singer Emmylou Harris with deepening her genuine appreciation for country music itself. Ronstadt, who had already made her name through raw-powered rock and pop hits before refining her technique later in her career, found that Harris's style resonated with her far more than the genre's earlier, more traditional female stars, shaping both her musical direction and her collaborations, including their work together in the country supergroup Trio.

Ronstadt explained that Harris brought "elegance, taste, class and dignity" to country singing, contrasting her with earlier artists such as Kitty Wells, whose style she said didn't appeal to her due to their differing upbringings. She noted that Harris's more refined, grounded approach set her apart from other country starlets of the era, and that this quality was what first drew her to embrace country music properly, even as she continued to draw on rock influences from acts like the Rolling Stones and helped launch the Eagles through her touring band.