Three Legendary Voices Transforming Devotion into a Timeless Hymn of Affection
Sometimes, magic truly happens when stars align. For years, whispers and hopes had circulated among music lovers about the possibility of three singular talents – Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt, and Emmylou Harris – joining forces. Each possessed a voice instantly recognizable, each a towering figure in her own right across country, rock, and folk landscapes. When they finally released their collaborative masterpiece, the Trio album, in 1987, the result was even more breathtaking than anticipated. And nestled within that stunning collection was a rendition of a seemingly simple classic that, in their hands, became transcendent: “To Know Him Is to Love Him”. This wasn’t just a cover; it was a reimagining, a song reborn through the prism of shared wisdom and sublime harmony, rightfully claiming the #1 spot on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.
The song itself carries a fascinating, poignant history. Its origins trace back to the dawn of rock and roll, penned by a young, ambitious Phil Spector before his Wall of Sound fame. Inspired by the melancholic inscription on his father’s tombstone – “To Know Him Was To Love Him” – Spector crafted a ode to pure, almost naive devotion. Recorded in 1958 by his group, The Teddy Bears, the original “To Know Him Is to Love Him” captured the zeitgeist of teenage romance, soaring to #1 on the pop charts with its innocent charm and Spector’s burgeoning production instincts. It was sweet, earnest, and deeply rooted in its era.
Fast forward nearly three decades. The Trio project, a labor of love built on years of friendship and mutual admiration between Parton, Ronstadt, and Harris, finally came to fruition. These were no longer ingenues, but seasoned artists carrying the weight and wisdom of life, love, and loss in their voices. When they chose to record “To Know Him Is to Love Him”, they approached it not as a throwback, but as a vessel for the unique alchemy of their combined artistry. The simplicity of Spector’s lyrics – “To know, know, know him is to love, love, love him / And I do, and I do, and I do” – remained, but the interpretation was profoundly different.
Listen again to their version. Hear how Dolly Parton’s unmistakable Appalachian clarity intertwines with Linda Ronstadt’s powerful, crystalline purity and Emmylou Harris’s ethereal, almost ghostly grace. It’s a celestial blend, each voice distinct yet perfectly complementing the others. The youthful yearning of the original is transformed into something deeper, richer. It sounds like shared understanding, like a truth discovered and affirmed through collective experience. The “him” in the song feels less like a specific teenage crush and more like a universal object of deep, abiding affection – be it a partner, a friend, a mentor, or even a shared ideal. There’s a warmth, a profound tenderness in their delivery that elevates the sentiment beyond mere romance into the realm of heartfelt, unwavering devotion.
The Trio album was a landmark event, a summit meeting that exceeded all expectations, deservedly winning a Grammy Award. Their rendition of “To Know Him Is to Love Him” stands as perhaps the purest distillation of the project’s magic. It’s the sound of three masters at the height of their powers, setting aside individual spotlights to create something unified and utterly beautiful. It reminds us of the power of harmony, not just in music, but in human connection. Hearing those voices merge so effortlessly still feels like eavesdropping on an intimate, sacred conversation, a testament to enduring friendship and the timeless truth that to truly know someone, in the deepest sense, is indeed to love them. It’s a performance that continues to resonate, a moment of pure, unadulterated vocal beauty captured for all time.