In 1978, Locke and Eastwood appeared with an orangutan named Manis in that year's fourth highest-grossing film, "Every Which Way but Loose". She portrayed country singer Lynn Halsey-Taylor in the adventure-comedy. Its 1980 sequel "Any Which Way You Can" – for which Locke earned a six-figure salary plus a share of the profits – was nearly as successful. She recorded several songs for the soundtracks of these films and was whispered to be shopping for a record deal at the time. Honing her musical skills, Locke performed live in concert (one-off gigs) with The Everly Brothers, Eddie Rabbitt and Tom Jones.