was RIAA certified Gold (for sales of over 1 million US copies) in January 1978. It was the first of Ronstadt's three Gold singles. Don Henley of the Eagles sang backup on the recording. "Blue Bayou" was later certified Platinum (for over 2 million copies sold in the United States). It was a worldwide smash, charting in countries such as Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and specially in Mexico, where it topped the singles charts. Ronstadt's version was nominated for the Grammy Award for Record of the Year and for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. Ronstadt also recorded a Spanish-language version of the song, titled "Lago Azul (Blue Bayou)", which was released in 1978 on the single Asylum E-45464, backed by "Lo Siento Mi Vida", a previously released Spanish song that Ronstadt herself co-wrote. This version has never been included on any reissues of Simple Dreams. Ronstadt later performed the song on the episode 523 of The Muppet Show, first aired October 26, 1980 on UK, and May 16, 1981 on United States. Because of this song, Dickson's Baseball Dictionary records that a "Linda Ronstadt" is a synonym for a fastball, a pitch that "blew by you". That phrase was coined by Mets broadcaster Tim McCarver, during a Mets telecast in the 1980s. Ronstadt's version appears, in edited form, in the 2017 film American Made and in Tony Scott's 2004 film Man on Fire. Track listings 7" vinyl US: Asylum Records E-45431 Side one "Blue Bayou" (Roy Orbison, Joe Melson) – 3:57 Side two "Old Paint (traditional, arranged by Linda Ronstadt) – 3:05 Chart performance Weekly charts Year-end charts Certifications Notable cover versions Besides Ronstadt, many other artists have covered "Blue Bayou" in English; among the notable versions are: Dutch singer Piet Veerman and the New Cats, 1980, on a single and his album Back to You. Swiss (a reggae singer of Tongan origin in New Zealand), 2012, on the single Blue Bayou (a reggae version of the song). Alisan Porter, winner of season 10 (2016) of the program The Voice, sang the song during her blind audition, prompting all four judges to turn their chairs. Rick Price and Jack Jones covered the song on their album California Dreaming (2017). Karli Webster, contestant of season 13 (2017) of The Voice, sang the song in the knockouts against Janice Freeman. Although she lost the knockout, she came back as