In the golden age of American pop and country-rock, few voices carried the emotional clarity and strength of Linda Ronstadt. And when she recorded “It Doesn’t Matter Anymore” for her landmark 1974 album Heart Like a Wheel, she didn’t simply cover an old hit — she transformed it into something timeless, intimate, and quietly devastating.
More than fifty years later, her rendition still feels fresh. It doesn’t rely on vocal theatrics or dramatic crescendos. Instead, it rests on something rarer: emotional truth.
A Song Born from Young Genius
Originally written by Paul Anka in 1958 and first recorded by Buddy Holly, “It Doesn’t Matter Anymore” was released shortly before Holly’s tragic death in 1959. That bittersweet history alone gave the song an added layer of poignancy. Even in its earliest form, it carried the ache of goodbye.
Anka wrote the song when he was only 16 years old — an astonishing fact considering the lyrical maturity within it. The lines are simple, but they cut deep. There’s no anger. No dramatic confrontation. Just resignation:
“It doesn’t matter anymore…”
That refrain isn’t bitter — it’s reflective. It suggests someone who has cried enough, loved enough, and finally reached a quiet place of acceptance.
Linda Ronstadt’s 1974 Reinvention
By the time Linda Ronstadt recorded the song in 1974, she was on the brink of superstardom. Heart Like a Wheel would become her breakthrough album, launching her into mainstream success and establishing her as one of the defining voices of the 1970s.
Her interpretation of “It Doesn’t Matter Anymore” slowed the song slightly and wrapped it in a warm, country-inflected arrangement. Lush strings glide gently behind her voice, and subtle acoustic instrumentation allows her phrasing to shine. There is no excess. No distraction.
What makes Ronstadt’s version extraordinary is her restraint.
She doesn’t oversing the heartbreak. She doesn’t dramatize the pain. Instead, she lets the sadness sit naturally in her tone. Her voice — velvety, controlled, yet emotionally transparent — communicates a woman who has already processed the loss. The tears have dried. What remains is clarity.
And that clarity is powerful.
Why This Version Endures
Many artists have covered “It Doesn’t Matter Anymore,” but Ronstadt’s rendition stands apart for several reasons:
1. Emotional Maturity
There’s a difference between singing about heartbreak and understanding it. Ronstadt sings as someone who knows the quiet exhaustion that follows disappointment. Her delivery suggests strength rather than fragility.
2. Production That Serves the Song
The arrangement on Heart Like a Wheel enhances the lyrics without overwhelming them. The gentle string section adds atmosphere, while the steady rhythm grounds the song in calm reflection. It feels intimate, almost like a late-night confession.
3. Timeless Themes
Love fades. People change. Time moves forward. Those realities never go out of style. The song’s message — that acceptance can coexist with sadness — continues to resonate across generations.
The Power of Acceptance in Music
So many breakup songs revolve around blame, anger, or revenge. “It Doesn’t Matter Anymore” takes a different path. It recognizes something deeper: closure isn’t always dramatic. Sometimes it’s quiet.
That emotional nuance is what makes Ronstadt’s interpretation so compelling. She doesn’t portray heartbreak as a dramatic storm. Instead, it feels like the stillness after the rain.
In a culture that often glorifies intense emotional expression, there’s something refreshing about a song that embraces composure. It suggests that moving on isn’t about forgetting — it’s about understanding.
A Defining Moment in Heart Like a Wheel
While Heart Like a Wheel is widely remembered for its chart-topping hits and commercial breakthrough, “It Doesn’t Matter Anymore” plays an essential role in the album’s emotional landscape.
The record itself became a cornerstone of 1970s country-rock, blending pop accessibility with authentic roots influences. Ronstadt’s ability to move effortlessly between genres — rock, country, folk, and pop — made her unique in an era of strong musical identities.
Her version of this song demonstrated her interpretive brilliance. She wasn’t just a powerful vocalist; she was a storyteller. She understood how to inhabit a lyric.
And that distinction separated her from many contemporaries.
Linda Ronstadt’s Legacy
By the mid-1970s, Linda Ronstadt had become one of the most successful female recording artists in America. Her voice defined a generation. Yet what continues to set her apart isn’t just vocal range or chart statistics — it’s emotional intelligence.
She chose songs that mattered. Songs with depth. Songs that lingered.
“It Doesn’t Matter Anymore” exemplifies that instinct. It’s not flashy. It doesn’t demand attention. It simply unfolds — gracefully, honestly, beautifully.
And perhaps that’s why it still works today.
Listening in 2026: Why It Still Hits
In an age dominated by fast-paced streaming hits and viral hooks, revisiting Ronstadt’s 1974 recording feels almost radical. The song takes its time. It allows space. It trusts the listener.
Modern audiences, overwhelmed by constant noise, often crave authenticity. And authenticity is exactly what this performance delivers.
When Ronstadt sings the final refrain, it doesn’t feel like defeat. It feels like growth.
That’s the secret.
Final Thoughts
“It Doesn’t Matter Anymore” may have been written by a teenage Paul Anka in the late 1950s, and first immortalized by Buddy Holly. But in 1974, Linda Ronstadt gave it new life — and in doing so, secured its place as a cross-generational classic.
Her version reminds us that heartbreak isn’t always loud. Sometimes it’s reflective. Sometimes it’s dignified. Sometimes it’s simply the quiet realization that what once mattered deeply has found its place in the past.
And when a song can capture that truth with such elegance, it never really stops mattering at all.