Nicolette Larson was born on July 17, 1952, in Helena, Montana, to a family that frequently relocated due to her father's employment with the U.S. Treasury Department. She graduated from high school in Kansas City, Missouri, and attended the University of Missouri for three semesters before working as a waitress and office worker.
Larson eventually settled in San Francisco, California, where she worked at a record store and as a stagehand for the Golden Gate Country Bluegrass Festival. She began her music career by performing as an opening act for Eric Andersen at a club in Vancouver, British Columbia.
In 1975, Larson auditioned for Hoyt Axton, who was producing Commander Cody, and was subsequently hired as a singer for Axton's band. She gained her first recording credit on Commander Cody's 1975 album, Tales From the Ozone, and provided background vocals for Commander Cody albums in 1977 and 1978.
Larson also worked with other notable artists, including Hoyt Axton, Guy Clark, Mary Kay Place, Rodney Crowell, Billy Joe Shaver, Jesse Colin Young, Jesse Winchester, and Gary Stewart. She recorded her first professional recording session with Guthrie Thomas on Axton's Southbound album for A&M Records.
Larson's work with Emmylou Harris on the album Luxury Liner (1977) led to her meeting Harris's associate and friend Linda Ronstadt, who became friends with Larson. In 1977, Larson was at Ronstadt's Malibu home when neighbor Neil Young phoned to ask Ronstadt if she could recommend a female vocal accompanist. Ronstadt suggested Larson, and Young came over to meet her.
Larson and Ronstadt cut vocals for Young's American Stars 'n Bars album at Young's La Honda ranch, and Young invited Larson to Nashville to sing on his Comes a Time album. This led to Larson being signed to Warner Brothers, an affiliate of Young's home label Reprise.
Larson went on to chart six times on the US country singles chart by 1985, with her only top-40 country hit being "That's How You Know When Love's Right", a duet with Steve Wariner. She died on December 16, 1997, due to cerebral edema and liver failure.
