Once upon a time there was a little girl who grew up
in the hardscrabble hills of eastern Kentucky.
Little did she know that one day she would become
a world famous star of country music.
This morning, that same little girl, whose name was Loretta Webb Lynn,
died peacefully in her sleep surrounded by her loving family. She was 90 years old.
Loretta's rags to riches story was retold in the 1980 Academy Award-winning
movie, "Coal Miner's Daughter" starring Sissy Spacek and Tommy Lee Jones.
The film was based on the 1976 autobiography of the same name.
Loretta always gave much of the credit for her amazing career as a singer to
her husband, Oliver "Doolittle" Lynn, whom she married at the tender age of 13.
By the time she was 18, Loretta had four children and was a housewife
living in Washington State, when her husband bought her a guitar for
their wedding anniversary and encouraged her to sing.
Loretta's first hit record, "I'm A Honky Tonk Girl" which was inspired
in part by Kitty Wells' 1952 hit single, "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky
Tonk Angels" and written by Loretta herself, eventually led to an
appearance at the legendary Grand Ole Opry in Nashville.
She later toured with Doyle and Teddy Wilburn, and in 1961, she
signed with Decca Records. Her first top 10 hit for the company
was called, "Success" a song which basically speaks for itself,
as Loretta became an overnight sensation, with a run of
chart-topping singles, many of which she wrote herself.
"You Ain't Woman Enough To Take My Man" (1966)
"Don't Come Home A Drinkin' With Lovin' On Your Mind"
(1966) and "Your Squaw Is On The Warpath Tonight" (1969)
were hit songs which reflected the often stormy relationship
between herself and her husband, Doo.
In 1964, Loretta gave birth to identical twin daughters, Patsy and Peggy Lynn.
Daughter Patsy was named after Loretta's dear friend and mentor, country
singer Patsy Cline, who had been killed in a plane crash in March, 1963.
Loretta later recorded a tribute album called, "I Remember Patsy" (1977)
which featured classic Cline ballads, including "Crazy"
"Sweet Dreams" and "Walking After Midnight"
In the early 1970's Loretta began a successful singing partnership with
country star Conway Twitty, with whom she recorded such hits as
"Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man" "I Can't Love You Enough"
and "After The Fire Is Gone".
Loretta also sparked controversy in the mid-1970's with her
song, "The Pill". As the women's liberation movement progressed
across the nation, Loretta's song focused on what she described as,
"how a man keeps a woman barefoot and pregnant over the years."
However, the song was deemed offensive in some areas of
the country and radio stations refused to play it.
I had the pleasure of seeing Loretta Lynn in person in the late 1970's
(or was it in the early 80's?) at the historic Broadway Theater in Pitman,
New Jersey which is not far from where I live today. I am so glad I
bought the souvenir book, "Looking Back" from one of her twin
daughters selling merchandise in the lobby after the show that night.
After this, me and and friend of mine went behind the theater
and there was Loretta's tour bus surrounded by a big crowd of
fans waiting for autographs. It was mobbed and so we decided
not to stay and wait. As we turned to leave, a handsome
young man sipping from a paper cup brushed by us on the
sidewalk. My friend and I quickly looked at each other
and exclaimed in unison, "That was Ernest Ray!"
Loretta's second son was the drummer in his mother's show that night.
After reading Loretta's story in the book, "Coal Miner's Daughter"
I ended up going to see the big screen movie at least three times!
It is one of my all time favorite movies.
Loretta's career seemed to slow down in the 1980's due to
personal and health problems. When her oldest son, Jack Benny,
died in an accidental drowning in 1984, Loretta was inconsolable.
In 1996, husband Doo, her spouse of 48 years, passed away
due to complications from Type II Diabetes.
Her oldest daughter, Betty Sue Lynn, succumbed to emphysema in 2013.
In 2004, at the age of 72, Loretta re-entered the music scene through
an unusual, yet highly successful collaboration with Jack White, lead
singer of the popular Detroit-based garage/punk band, The White Stripes.
The result was the album, "Van Lear Rose".
The album became the biggest of her career, along with her duet
with Jack White, "Portland, Oregon". The undisputed Queen of
Country Music was back in the spotlight again.
As feisty as ever, Loretta stayed active in her singing well
into her eighth decade, releasing the Grammy award-winning
album, "Full Circle" in 2016, which was produced by her
daughter, Patsy Lynn Russell and John Carter Cash,
the son of Johnny and June Carter Cash.
Despite suffering a stroke in 2017, Loretta recovered enough
to record, "Wouldn't It Be Great" in 2018, a selection of
classic songs and interpretations of her work, including
"God Makes No Mistakes" as well as her signature song,
"Coal Miner's Daughter".
Her health, however, remained fragile until today,
when the Lord called her home.
Like her contemporaries, Dolly Parton and Tammy Wynette,
Loretta Lynn was a trailblazer who opened doors for women
in the world of country music entertainment.
The little blue-eyed girl from Butcher Holler, Kentucky, whose powerful voice made
her an American country music legend, and who I always thought would make a
wonderful next door neighbor, will always have a special place in my heart.
May she rest in eternal peace.
Loretta Lynn
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