On this day, March 2, 1987, the collaborative album Trio by Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt, and Emmylou Harris was released. This landmark project brought together three of country music’s most celebrated female artists, blending their distinct voices into harmonious perfection.
‘Trio’ achieved significant commercial success, reaching number 6 on the Billboard 200 chart and securing the number 1 spot on the Country Albums chart for five consecutive weeks. The album featured standout tracks like “To Know Him Is to Love Him,” which became a number 1 country single, and “Telling Me Lies,” which also charted successfully.
The collaboration was a long-awaited endeavor, as the trio had attempted to record together in the 1970s but faced scheduling conflicts and label issues. Their perseverance culminated in this critically acclaimed album, which won a Grammy Award for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal and was later inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
80s insight: The song “To Know Him Is to Love Him” was originally written and recorded by Phil Spector’s group, The Teddy Bears, in 1958. The trio’s rendition brought the classic tune to a new generation of listeners.