Biography

Has a stunning amount in common with Yoko Ono, John Lennon's widow. Both women were raised in extremely wealthy environments. Both shunned relying on this wealth and attempted to make it on their own (McCartney as a photographer, Ono as an actress and artist), only to later be accused of marrying their husbands for their money despite their families' wealth. Both attended Sarah Lawrence College (at different times) and left without finishing degrees. Both married a frontman for the Beatles, and these weddings took place eight days apart in March 1969 (the McCartneys were first). Both women were pregnant at their weddings (Ono later suffered a miscarriage, McCartney later gave birth to Mary McCartney). Both had a daughter from a previous marriage. Both had mentally unstable former husbands (Ono's later kidnapped their daughter and took her to a fundamentalist Christian commune; McCartney's committed suicide in 2000). Both were accused of playing a major role in the Beatles' breakup. Both suffered personal attacks by fans and by the press. Both suffered attacks on their musical talent (particularly vocal) by fans and the press. Both were older than their husbands. Both were activists.

Actually found John Lennon the most appealing of the Beatles, when they first came on the scene, but liked Paul better in person after they'd met. (She and John got along adequately in private, but took occasional barbs at each other and their spouses, in the media.)

Oscar and Grammy nominee for co-writing the theme song of Live and Let Die (1973) with her husband.

Her oldest daughter Heather McCartney was adopted by her second husband Paul McCartney in 1969.

Took a lot of flak for her ability (or lack thereof) on keyboards; she played along with husband Paul McCartney's bands because he wanted her there, as with John Lennon's making Yoko Ono his musical partner. A late starter, taught mostly by Paul, Linda knew her limitations on keyboards; before going back on the road in the 1990s, she took a winter off to build up her chops. Nonetheless, in her own words, "there's high-schoolers who could do better".