Loretta Lynn
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Loretta Lynn (; April 14, 1932 – October 4, 2022) was an American
country music Country (also called country and western) is a genre of popular music that originated in the Southern and Southwestern United States in the early 1920s. It primarily derives from blues, church music such as Southern gospel and spirituals, ...
singer and songwriter. In a career spanning six decades, Lynn released multiple gold albums. She had numerous hits such as " You Ain't Woman Enough (To Take My Man)", " Don't Come Home A-Drinkin' (With Lovin' on Your Mind)", "
One's on the Way "One's on the Way" is a song made famous by country music singer Loretta Lynn. Originally released in 1971, the song was the title track to her 1971 album and became one of her best-known hits. It was written by Shel Silverstein. About the song Co ...
", "
Fist City "Fist City" is a country music song written and performed by Loretta Lynn, released in 1968. Inspired by her husband's dalliances with other women who pursued him while she was busy touring, Lynn wrote the song as a warning for other women to stay ...
", and " Coal Miner's Daughter". In 1980, the film '' Coal Miner's Daughter'' was made based on her life. Lynn received many awards and other accolades for her groundbreaking role in country music, including awards from both the Country Music Association and
Academy of Country Music The Academy of Country Music (ACM) was founded in 1964 in Los Angeles, California as the Country & Western Music Academy. Among the founders were Eddie Miller, Tommy Wiggins, and Mickey and Chris Christensen. They wanted to promote country music ...
as a duet partner and an individual artist. She was nominated 18 times for a
Grammy Award The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pres ...
, and won three times. , Lynn was the most awarded female country recording artist, and the only female ACM Artist of the Decade (1970s). Lynn scored 24 No. 1 hit singles and 11 number one albums. She ended 57 years of touring on the road after she suffered a stroke in 2017 and broke her hip in 2018.


Early life and career

Lynn was born Loretta Webb in
Butcher Hollow, Kentucky Butcher Hollow (also known as Butcher Holler) is a coal-mining community located in Johnson County, Kentucky, United States. History The town is the birthplace of country singer Loretta Lynn, who paid tribute to the community in the song "Coal M ...
, on April 14, 1932. She was the oldest daughter and second child born to Clara Marie "Clary" (''née'' Ramey; May 5, 1912 – November 24, 1981) and Melvin Theodore "Ted" Webb (June 6, 1906 – February 22, 1959). Ted was a coal miner and
subsistence farmer Subsistence agriculture occurs when farmers grow food crops to meet the needs of themselves and their families on smallholdings. Subsistence agriculturalists target farm output for survival and for mostly local requirements, with little or no su ...
. The family claims
Cherokee The Cherokee (; chr, ᎠᏂᏴᏫᏯᎢ, translit=Aniyvwiyaʔi or Anigiduwagi, or chr, ᏣᎳᎩ, links=no, translit=Tsalagi) are one of the indigenous peoples of the Southeastern Woodlands of the United States. Prior to the 18th century, t ...
heritage but they are not recognized by or members of a tribe. She was named after the film star
Loretta Young Loretta Young (born Gretchen Young; January 6, 1913 – August 12, 2000) was an American actress. Starting as a child, she had a long and varied career in film from 1917 to 1953. She won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in the fil ...
."About the Artist: Biography of Loretta Lynn"
.
John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (formally known as the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, and commonly referred to as the Kennedy Center) is the United States National Cultural Center, located on the Potom ...
. Retrieved February 4, 2007.
The other Webb children were: * Melvin "Junior" Webb (December 4, 1929 – July 2, 1993) * Herman Webb (September 3, 1934 – July 28, 2018) * Willie "Jay" Lee Webb (February 12, 1937 – July 31, 1996) * Donald Ray Webb (April 2, 1941 – October 13, 2017) * Peggy Sue Wright (née Webb; born March 25, 1943) * Betty Ruth Hopkins (née Webb; born January 5, 1946) * Crystal Gayle (born Brenda Gail Webb; January 9, 1951) Loretta's father Ted died at the age of 52 from a stroke four years after relocating with her mother and younger siblings to
Wabash, Indiana Wabash is a city in Noble Township, Wabash County, in the U.S. state of Indiana. The population was 10,666 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of Wabash County. Wabash is notable as claiming to be the first electrically lighted ci ...
. He had also been battling
black lung disease Coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP), also known as black lung disease or black lung, is an occupational type of pneumoconiosis caused by long-term exposure to coal dust. It is common in coal miners and others who work with coal. It is similar to ...
at the time of his death. Through her
matriline Matrilineality is the tracing of kinship through the female line. It may also correlate with a social system in which each person is identified with their matriline – their mother's lineage – and which can involve the inheritance of ...
, Lynn was distant cousins with country singer
Patty Loveless Patty Loveless (born Patricia Lee Ramey, January 4, 1957) is an American country music singer. She began performing in her teenaged years before signing her first recording contract with MCA Records' Nashville division in 1985. While her first ...
. On January 10, 1948, 15-year-old Loretta Webb married Oliver Vanetta "Doolittle" Lynn (August 27, 1926 – August 22, 1996), better known as "Doolittle", "Doo", or "Mooney". They had met only a month earlier. The Lynns left Kentucky and moved to the logging community of
Custer, Washington Custer is a census-designated place (CDP) in Whatcom County, Washington, United States. The population was 366 at the 2010 census. Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 1.8 square miles (4.7&nb ...
, when Loretta was seven months pregnant with the first of their six children. The happiness and heartache of her early years of marriage would help to inspire Lynn's songwriting. In 1953, Doolittle bought her a $17
Harmony In music, harmony is the process by which individual sounds are joined together or composed into whole units or compositions. Often, the term harmony refers to simultaneously occurring frequencies, pitches ( tones, notes), or chords. However ...
guitar (). She taught herself to play the instrument, and over the following three years, she worked to improve her guitar playing. With Doolittle's encouragement, she started her own band, Loretta and the Trailblazers, with her brother Jay Lee playing lead guitar. She often appeared at Bill's Tavern in Blaine, Washington, and the Delta Grange Hall in Custer, Washington, with the Pen Brothers' band and the Westerneers. She cut her first record, "
I'm a Honky Tonk Girl "I'm a Honky Tonk Girl" is the debut single by American country music artist Loretta Lynn, released in March 1960. The song was among the first to not only be recorded by Lynn, but also to be penned by her. She composed the song while living in Wa ...
", in February 1960.


Career


1960–1966: Early country success

Lynn began singing in local clubs in the late 1950s. She later formed her own band, the Trailblazers which included her brother Jay Lee Webb. Lynn won a wristwatch in a televised talent contest in
Tacoma, Washington Tacoma ( ) is the county seat of Pierce County, Washington, United States. A port city, it is situated along Washington's Puget Sound, southwest of Seattle, northeast of the state capital, Olympia, Washington, Olympia, and northwest of Mount ...
, hosted by
Buck Owens Alvis Edgar Owens Jr. (August 12, 1929 – March 25, 2006), known professionally as Buck Owens, was an American musician, singer, songwriter, and band leader. He was the lead singer for Buck Owens and the Buckaroos, which had 21 No. 1 hits on ...
. Lynn's performance was seen by Canadian Norm Burley of
Zero Records Zero Records was a record label founded in 1959 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. History In the late 1950’s, Don Grashey met Charlie Chuck Williams (Chuck) in Thunder Bay. The pair later moved to Vancouver. With the financial help of N ...
, who co-founded the record company after hearing Loretta sing."Van Lear Rose"
. Retrieved February 4, 2007.
Zero Records Zero Records was a record label founded in 1959 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. History In the late 1950’s, Don Grashey met Charlie Chuck Williams (Chuck) in Thunder Bay. The pair later moved to Vancouver. With the financial help of N ...
president, Canadian
Don Grashey Dominic Michael Guarasci (November 1, 1925 – September 12, 2005), better known as Don Grashey, was a songwriter and music producer, best known as the owner of Zero Records. Early life Grashey was born in 1925 in Port Arthur, Ontario (now kno ...
, arranged a recording session in Hollywood, where four of Lynn's compositions were recorded, including "I'm A Honky Tonk Girl," "Whispering Sea," "Heartache Meet Mister Blues," and "New Rainbow." Her first release featured "Whispering Sea" and "
I'm a Honky Tonk Girl "I'm a Honky Tonk Girl" is the debut single by American country music artist Loretta Lynn, released in March 1960. The song was among the first to not only be recorded by Lynn, but also to be penned by her. She composed the song while living in Wa ...
". Lynn signed her first contract on February 2, 1960, with Zero. Her album was recorded at
United Western Recorders United Western Recorders was a two-building recording studio complex in Hollywood that was one of the most successful independent recording studios of the 1960s. The complex merged neighboring studios United Recording Corp. on 6050 Sunset Boule ...
in Hollywood, engineered by Don Blake and produced by Grashey."Honky Tonk Make Believe", Don Grashy – Co. Joseph Mauro, "MY RAMBLING HEART" (Washington. DC: 1995), p. 45. Musicians who played on the songs were steel guitar player
Speedy West Wesley Webb West (January 25, 1924 – November 15, 2003), better known as Speedy West, was an American pedal steel guitarist and record producer. He frequently played with Jimmy Bryant, both in their own duo and as part of the regular Capitol ...
, fiddler Harold Hensley, guitarist Roy Lanham, Al Williams on bass, and Muddy Berry on drums. Lynn commented on the different sound of her first record: "Well, there is a West Coast sound that is definitely not the same as the Nashville sound ..It was a shuffle with a West Coast beat". The Lynns toured the country to promote the release to country stations, while Grashey and
Del Roy Del Roy was a racing car constructor. Del Roy cars competed in one round of the FIA World Championship - the 1953 Indianapolis 500 The 37th International 500-Mile Sweepstakes was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Saturday, May 30, 1953. ...
took the music to KFOX in
Long Beach, California Long Beach is a city in Los Angeles County, California. It is the 42nd-most populous city in the United States, with a population of 466,742 as of 2020. A charter city, Long Beach is the seventh-most populous city in California. Incorporate ...
. When the Lynns reached
Nashville Nashville is the capital city of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the seat of Davidson County. With a population of 689,447 at the 2020 U.S. census, Nashville is the most populous city in the state, 21st most-populous city in the U.S., and the ...
, the song was a hit, climbing to No. 14 on Billboard's Country and Western chart, and Lynn began cutting demo records for the Wilburn Brothers Publishing Company. Through the Wilburns, she secured a contract with
Decca Records Decca Records is a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis (Decca), Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934 by Lewis, Jack Kapp, American Decca's first president, and Milton Rackmil, who later became American ...
. The first Loretta Lynn Fan Club formed in November 1960. By the end of the year,
Billboard magazine ''Billboard'' (stylized as ''billboard'') is an American music and entertainment magazine published weekly by Penske Media Corporation. The magazine provides music charts, news, video, opinion, reviews, events, and style related to the music ...
listed Lynn as the No. 4 Most Promising Country Female Artist. Lynn's relationship with the Wilburn Brothers and her appearances on the Grand Ole Opry, beginning in 1960, helped Lynn become the No. 1 female recording artist in country music. Her contract with the Wilburn Brothers gave them the publishing rights to her material. She unsuccessfully fought the Wilburn Brothers for 30 years to regain the publishing rights to her songs after ending her business relationship with them. Lynn stopped writing music in the 1970s because of the contracts. Lynn joined the
Grand Ole Opry The ''Grand Ole Opry'' is a weekly American country music stage concert in Nashville, Tennessee, founded on November 28, 1925, by George D. Hay as a one-hour radio "barn dance" on WSM. Currently owned and operated by Opry Entertainment (a divis ...
on September 25, 1962. Lynn credited
Patsy Cline Patsy is a given name often used as a diminutive of the feminine given name Patricia or sometimes the masculine name Patrick, or occasionally other names containing the syllable "Pat" (such as Cleopatra, Patience, Patrice, or Patricia). Among I ...
as her mentor and best friend during her early years in music. In 2010, when interviewed for
Jimmy McDonough Jimmy McDonough is a biographer and journalist. He is best known for his biographies of Russ Meyer, Andy Milligan, Tammy Wynette, Al Green, and Neil Young. He is noted by critics for his remarkably exhaustive accounts and for his tendency to avoi ...
's biography of
Tammy Wynette Tammy Wynette (born Virginia Wynette Pugh; May 5, 1942 – April 6, 1998) was an American country music artist, as well as an actress and author. She is considered among the genre's most influential and successful artists. Along with Loretta Ly ...
, ''Tammy Wynette: Tragic Country Queen'', Lynn said of having best friends in Patsy and Tammy during different times: "Best friends are like husbands. You only need one at a time." Lynn released her first Decca single, " Success", in 1962, and it went straight to No. 6, beginning a string of top 10 singles that would run throughout the 1970s. Lynn's music began to regularly hit the Top 10 after 1964 with songs such as "
Before I'm Over You ''Before I'm Over You'' is a studio album by American country singer-songwriter Loretta Lynn. It was released on June 22, 1964 via Decca Records and was produced by Owen Bradley. It was Lynn's second studio album issued in her recording career a ...
", which peaked at No.4, followed by "
Wine, Women and Song "Wine, women, and song" is a hendiatris that endorses hedonistic lifestyles or behaviors. A more modern form of the idea is often expressed as "sex and drugs and rock 'n' roll", a phrase popularized by British singer Ian Dury in his song of ...
", which peaked at No.3. In late 1964, she recorded a duet album with
Ernest Tubb Ernest Dale Tubb (February 9, 1914 – September 6, 1984), nicknamed the Texas Troubadour, was an American singer and songwriter and one of the pioneers of country music. His biggest career hit song, " Walking the Floor Over You" (1941), ...
. Their lead single, "
Mr. and Mrs. Used to Be "Mr. and Mrs. Used to Be" is a song written by Billy Joe Deaton that was originally performed by American country music artists Loretta Lynn and Ernest Tubb. It was released as a single in July 1964 via Decca Records. Background and reception " ...
", peaked within the Top 15. The pair recorded two more albums, '' Singin' Again'' (1967) and '' If We Put Our Heads Together'' (1969). In 1965, her solo career continued with three major hits, " Happy Birthday", " Blue Kentucky Girl" (later recorded and made a Top 10 hit in the 1970s by
Emmylou Harris Emmylou Harris (born April 2, 1947) is an American singer, songwriter and musician. She has released dozens of albums and singles over the course of her career and has won 14 Grammys, the Polar Music Prize, and numerous other honors, including ...
), and " The Home You're Tearing Down". Lynn's label issued two albums that year, ''Songs from My Heart'' and ''Blue Kentucky Girl''. Lynn's first self-penned song to crack the Top 10, 1966's " Dear Uncle Sam", was among the first recordings to recount the human costs of the Vietnam War. Her 1966 hit " You Ain't Woman Enough (To Take My Man)" made Lynn the first country female recording artist to write a No.1 hit.


1967–1980: Breakthrough success

In 1967, Lynn released the single " Don't Come Home A-Drinkin' (With Lovin' on Your Mind)", It was her first number one country hit. Lynn's next album, ''
Fist City "Fist City" is a country music song written and performed by Loretta Lynn, released in 1968. Inspired by her husband's dalliances with other women who pursued him while she was busy touring, Lynn wrote the song as a warning for other women to stay ...
'', was released in 1968. The
title track A title track is a song that has the same name as the album or film in which it appears. In the Korean music industry, the term is used to describe a promoted song on an album, akin to a single, regardless of the song's title. Title track may a ...
became Lynn's second No. 1 hit, as a single earlier that year, and the other single from the album, "
What Kind of a Girl (Do You Think I Am) "What Kind of a Girl (Do You Think I Am)" is a song written by Loretta Lynn and Teddy Wilburn that was also recorded by Australian country music artist Jean Stafford. Background and reception "What Kind of a Girl (Do You Think I Am)" was recor ...
", peaked within the top 10. In 1968, her next studio album, '' Your Squaw Is on the Warpath'', spawned two Top 5 Country hits, including the
title track A title track is a song that has the same name as the album or film in which it appears. In the Korean music industry, the term is used to describe a promoted song on an album, akin to a single, regardless of the song's title. Title track may a ...
and " You've Just Stepped In (From Stepping Out on Me)". In 1969, her next single, "
Woman of the World (Leave My World Alone) "Woman of the World (Leave My World Alone)' is a 1969 single written by Sharon Higgins, and recorded by Loretta Lynn. The single was from the LP Woman of the World / To Make a Man ''Woman of the World/To Make a Man'' is the fourteenth solo stu ...
", was Lynn's third chart-topper, followed by a subsequent Top 10, " To Make a Man (Feel Like a Man)". Her song " You Ain't Woman Enough (To Take My Man)", was an instant hit and became one of Lynn's all-time most popular. Her career continued to be successful into the 1970s, especially following the success of her autobiographical hit " Coal Miner's Daughter", which peaked at No. 1 on the
Billboard Country Chart Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine in the United States. This 50-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly by collecting airplay data from Nielsen BDS along with digital sal ...
in 1970. The song became her first single to chart on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, peaking at No. 83. She had a series of singles that charted low on the Hot 100 between 1970 and 1975. In 1978, she became a special guest star on ''
The Muppet Show ''The Muppet Show'' is a sketch comedy television series created by Jim Henson and featuring the Muppets. The series originated as two pilot episodes produced by Henson for ABC in 1974 and 1975. While neither episode was moved forward as a s ...
''. The song "Coal Miner's Daughter" later served as the impetus for her bestselling autobiography (1976) and the Oscar-winning biopic, both of which share the song's title. In 1973, " Rated "X"" peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Country Chart and was considered one of Lynn's most controversial hits. The following year, her next single, " Love Is the Foundation", also became a No. 1 country hit from her album of the same name. The second and last single from that album, " Hey Loretta", became a Top 5 hit. Lynn continued to reach the Top 10 until the end of the decade, including 1975's "
The Pill The combined oral contraceptive pill (COCP), often referred to as the birth control pill or colloquially as "the pill", is a type of birth control that is designed to be taken orally by women. The pill contains two important hormones: proges ...
", one of the first songs to discuss
birth control Birth control, also known as contraception, anticonception, and fertility control, is the use of methods or devices to prevent unwanted pregnancy. Birth control has been used since ancient times, but effective and safe methods of birth contr ...
. Many of Lynn's songs were autobiographical, and as a songwriter, Lynn felt no topic was off limits, as long as it was relatable to women. In 1976, she released her autobiography, ''Coal Miner's Daughter'', with the help of writer
George Vecsey George Spencer Vecsey (born July 4, 1939) is an American non-fiction author and sports columnist for ''The New York Times.'' Vecsey is best known for his work in sports, but has co-written several autobiographies with non-sports figures. He is also ...
. It became a bestseller, with more than 8 weeks on ''The New York Times'' Best Seller list.


Professional partnership with Conway Twitty

In 1971, Lynn began a professional partnership with Conway Twitty. As a duo, Lynn and Twitty had five consecutive No. 1 hits between 1971 and 1975, including "
After the Fire Is Gone "After the Fire Is Gone" is a song written by L. E. White, and recorded by American country music artists Loretta Lynn and Conway Twitty as a duet. It was released in January 1971 as the only single from the LP ''We Only Make Believe''. "After the ...
" (1971), which won them a Grammy award, " Lead Me On" (1971), " Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man" (1973), " As Soon as I Hang Up the Phone" (1974), and " Feelins'" (1974). For four consecutive years, 1972–1975, Lynn and Twitty were named the "Vocal Duo of the Year" by the Country Music Association. The
Academy of Country Music The Academy of Country Music (ACM) was founded in 1964 in Los Angeles, California as the Country & Western Music Academy. Among the founders were Eddie Miller, Tommy Wiggins, and Mickey and Chris Christensen. They wanted to promote country music ...
named them the " Best Vocal Duet" in 1971, 1974, 1975, and 1976. The
American Music awards The American Music Awards (AMAs) is an annual American music awards show, generally held in the fall, created by Dick Clark in 1973 for ABC when the network's contract to air the Grammy Awards expired, and currently produced by Dick Clark Pro ...
selected them as the "Favorite Country Duo" in 1975, 1976, and 1977. The fan-voted Music City News readers voted them the No. 1 duet every year between 1971 and 1981, inclusive. In addition to their five No. 1 singles, they had seven other Top 10 hits between 1976 and 1981. As a solo artist, Lynn continued her success in 1971, achieving her fifth No. 1 solo hit, "
One's on the Way "One's on the Way" is a song made famous by country music singer Loretta Lynn. Originally released in 1971, the song was the title track to her 1971 album and became one of her best-known hits. It was written by Shel Silverstein. About the song Co ...
", written by poet and songwriter
Shel Silverstein Sheldon Allan Silverstein (; September 25, 1930 – May 10, 1999) was an American writer, poet, cartoonist, singer / songwriter, musician, and playwright. Born and raised in Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, Silverstein briefly attended universit ...
. She also charted with " I Wanna Be Free", " You're Lookin' at Country", and 1972's "
Here I Am Again ''Here I Am Again'' is the twenty-first solo studio album by American country music singer-songwriter Loretta Lynn. It was released on October 2, 1972, by Decca Records. The album features liner notes written by Lynn's mother, Clara Butcher, who ...
", all released on separate albums. The next year, she became the first country star on the cover of ''
Newsweek ''Newsweek'' is an American weekly online news magazine co-owned 50 percent each by Dev Pragad, its president and CEO, and Johnathan Davis (businessman), Johnathan Davis, who has no operational role at ''Newsweek''. Founded as a weekly print m ...
''.Loretta Lynn biography
Countrypolitan.com. Retrieved April 18, 2008.
In 1972, Lynn was the first woman to be nominated and win Entertainer of the Year at the CMA awards. She won the Female Vocalist of the Year and Duo of the Year with Conway Twitty, beating out
George Jones George Glenn Jones (September 12, 1931 – April 26, 2013) was an American country musician, singer, and songwriter. He achieved international fame for his long list of hit records, including his best-known song "He Stopped Loving Her Today", ...
and Tammy Wynette and
Porter Wagoner Porter Wayne Wagoner (August 12, 1927 – October 28, 2007) was an American country music singer known for his flashy Nudie and Manuel suits and blond pompadour. In 1967, he introduced singer Dolly Parton on his television show, ''The Po ...
and
Dolly Parton Dolly Rebecca Parton (born January 19, 1946) is an American singer-songwriter, actress, philanthropist, and businesswoman, known primarily for her work in country music. After achieving success as a songwriter for others, Parton made her album d ...
.


Tribute album for Patsy Cline, other projects, and honors

In 1977, Lynn recorded '' I Remember Patsy'', an album dedicated to her friend, singer
Patsy Cline Patsy is a given name often used as a diminutive of the feminine given name Patricia or sometimes the masculine name Patrick, or occasionally other names containing the syllable "Pat" (such as Cleopatra, Patience, Patrice, or Patricia). Among I ...
, who died in a plane crash in 1963. The album covered some of Cline's biggest hits. The two singles Lynn released from the album, "
She's Got You "She's Got You" is a country song written by Hank Cochran and first recorded (in December 1961) and released (in 1962) as a single by Patsy Cline. Musically the song is an upbeat jazz-pop song with country overtones to support it. History Accord ...
" and "Why Can't He Be You", became hits. "She's Got You", which went to No. 1 by Cline in 1962 went to No. 1 again that year by Lynn. "
Why Can't He Be You "Why Can't He Be You"' is a song written by Hank Cochran that was originally recorded by American country artist Patsy Cline. The song became a minor chart hit was later included on Cline's ''Greatest Hits'' album. It has since been notably covered ...
" peaked at No. 7. Lynn had her last No. 1 hit in 1978 with " Out of My Head and Back in My Bed". In 1979, Lynn had two Top 5 hits, " I Can't Feel You Anymore" and " I've Got a Picture of Us on My Mind", from separate albums. Devoted to her fans, Lynn told the editor of
Salisbury, Maryland Salisbury () is a city in and the county seat of Wicomico County, Maryland, Wicomico County, Maryland, United States, and the largest city in Eastern Shore of Maryland, the state's Eastern Shore region. The population was 33,050 at the 2020 United ...
's newspaper the reason she signed hundreds of autographs: "These people are my fans... I'll stay here until the very last one wants my autograph. Without these people, I am nobody. I love these people." In 1979, she became the spokesperson for
Procter & Gamble The Procter & Gamble Company (P&G) is an American multinational consumer goods corporation headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, founded in 1837 by William Procter and James Gamble. It specializes in a wide range of personal health/consumer hea ...
's
Crisco Crisco is an American brand of shortening that is produced by B%26G Foods. Introduced in June 1911 by Procter & Gamble, it was the first shortening to be made entirely of vegetable oil, originally cottonseed oil. Additional products marketed un ...
Oil. Because of her dominant hold on the 1970s, Lynn was named the "Artist of the Decade" by the Academy of Country Music. She is the only woman to have won this honor. Lynn became a part of the country music scene in
Nashville Nashville is the capital city of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the seat of Davidson County. With a population of 689,447 at the 2020 U.S. census, Nashville is the most populous city in the state, 21st most-populous city in the U.S., and the ...
in the 1960s. In 1967, she had the first of 16 No. 1 hits, out of 70 charted songs as a solo artist and a duet partner. Her later hits include " Don't Come Home A-Drinkin' (With Lovin' on Your Mind)", " You Ain't Woman Enough (To Take My Man)", "
Fist City "Fist City" is a country music song written and performed by Loretta Lynn, released in 1968. Inspired by her husband's dalliances with other women who pursued him while she was busy touring, Lynn wrote the song as a warning for other women to stay ...
", and " Coal Miner's Daughter".''Coal Miner's Daughter''. p. 73. Lynn focused on women's issues with themes about philandering husbands and persistent mistresses. Her music was inspired by issues she faced in her marriage. She increased the boundaries in the conservative genre of country music by singing about birth control ("
The Pill The combined oral contraceptive pill (COCP), often referred to as the birth control pill or colloquially as "the pill", is a type of birth control that is designed to be taken orally by women. The pill contains two important hormones: proges ...
"), repeated childbirth ("
One's on the Way "One's on the Way" is a song made famous by country music singer Loretta Lynn. Originally released in 1971, the song was the title track to her 1971 album and became one of her best-known hits. It was written by Shel Silverstein. About the song Co ...
"), double standards for men and women (" Rated 'X'"), and being widowed by the draft during the
Vietnam War The Vietnam War (also known by #Names, other names) was a conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. It was the second of the Indochina Wars and was officially fought between North Vie ...
("Dear Uncle Sam"). Country music radio stations often refused to play her music and in a 1987 interview she said eight of her songs had been banned. Her bestselling 1976 autobiography, ''Coal Miner's Daughter'', was made into an
Academy Award The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment ind ...
–winning film with the same title in 1980, starring
Sissy Spacek Mary Elizabeth Spacek (; born December 25, 1949) is an American actress and singer. She is the recipient of numerous accolades, including an Academy Award, three Golden Globe Awards, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and nominations for four Briti ...
and
Tommy Lee Jones Tommy Lee Jones (born September 15, 1946) is an American actor and film director. He has received four Academy Award nominations, winning Best Supporting Actor for his performance as U.S. Marshal Samuel Gerard in the 1993 thriller film '' The ...
. Spacek won the
Academy Award for Best Actress The Academy Award for Best Actress is an award presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). It is given to an actress who has delivered an outstanding performance in a leading role in a film released that year. ...
for her role as Lynn. Lynn's album ''
Van Lear Rose ''Van Lear Rose'' is the forty-second solo studio album by American country music singer-songwriter Loretta Lynn. It was released on April 27, 2004, by Interscope Records. The album was produced by Jack White. The album was widely praised by criti ...
'', released in 2004, was produced by the
alternative rock Alternative rock, or alt-rock, is a category of rock music that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1970s and became widely popular in the 1990s. "Alternative" refers to the genre's distinction from Popular culture, mainstre ...
musician
Jack White John Anthony White (; born July 9, 1975), commonly known as Jack White, is an American musician, best known as the lead singer and guitarist of the duo the White Stripes. White has enjoyed consistent critical and popular success and is widely c ...
. Lynn and White were nominated for five Grammys and won two. Lynn received numerous awards in country and American music. She was inducted into the
Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame was established in 1970 by the Nashville Songwriters Foundation, Inc. in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. A non-profit organization, its objective is to honor and preserve the songwriting legacy that is u ...
in 1983, the
Country Music Hall of Fame The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, Tennessee, is one of the world's largest museums and research centers dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of American vernacular music. Chartered in 1964, the museum has amas ...
in 1988, and the
Songwriters Hall of Fame The Songwriters Hall of Fame (SHOF) is an American institution founded in 1969 by songwriter Johnny Mercer, music publisher/songwriter Abe Olman, and publisher/executive Howie Richmond to honor those whose work, represent, and maintain, the her ...
in 2008. She was honored in 2010 at the Country Music Awards. She was awarded the
Presidential Medal of Freedom The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the highest civilian award of the United States, along with the Congressional Gold Medal. It is an award bestowed by the president of the United States to recognize people who have made "an especially merito ...
by President
Barack Obama Barack Hussein Obama II ( ; born August 4, 1961) is an American politician who served as the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, Obama was the first African-American president of the U ...
in 2013. Lynn was a member of the
Grand Ole Opry The ''Grand Ole Opry'' is a weekly American country music stage concert in Nashville, Tennessee, founded on November 28, 1925, by George D. Hay as a one-hour radio "barn dance" on WSM. Currently owned and operated by Opry Entertainment (a divis ...
since joining on September 25, 1962. Her debut appearance on the Grand Ole Opry was on October 15, 1960. Lynn recorded 70 albums including 54 studio albums, 15 compilation albums, and a tribute album.


1980–1989: Movie and popularity

On March 5, 1980, the film '' Coal Miner's Daughter'' debuted in Nashville and soon became the No. 1 box office hit in the United States. The film starred
Sissy Spacek Mary Elizabeth Spacek (; born December 25, 1949) is an American actress and singer. She is the recipient of numerous accolades, including an Academy Award, three Golden Globe Awards, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and nominations for four Briti ...
as Loretta and
Tommy Lee Jones Tommy Lee Jones (born September 15, 1946) is an American actor and film director. He has received four Academy Award nominations, winning Best Supporting Actor for his performance as U.S. Marshal Samuel Gerard in the 1993 thriller film '' The ...
as her husband, Doolittle "Mooney" Lynn. The film received seven
Academy Award The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment ind ...
nominations, winning the
Best Actress Best Actress is the name of an award which is presented by various film, television and theatre organisations, festivals, and people's awards to leading actresses in a film, television series, television film or play. The first Best Actress aw ...
Oscar for Spacek, a gold album for the soundtrack album, a Grammy nomination for Spacek, Country Music Association and
Academy of Country Music The Academy of Country Music (ACM) was founded in 1964 in Los Angeles, California as the Country & Western Music Academy. Among the founders were Eddie Miller, Tommy Wiggins, and Mickey and Chris Christensen. They wanted to promote country music ...
awards, and several Golden Globe awards. The 1980s featured more hits, including "
Pregnant Again "Pregnant Again" is a song written by Lee Pockriss and Mark Sameth that was originally performed by American country music artist Loretta Lynn. It was released as a single in January 1980 via MCA Records. Background and reception "Pregnant Again ...
", " Naked in the Rain", and " Somebody Led Me Away". Lynn's last Top 10 record as a soloist was 1982's " I Lie", but her releases continued to chart until the end of the decade. One of her last solo releases was " Heart Don't Do This to Me" (1985), which reached No. 19, her last Top 20 hit. Her 1985 album ''Just a Woman'' spawned a Top 40 hit. In 1987, Lynn lent her voice to a song on
k.d. lang Kathryn Dawn Lang (born November 2, 1961), known by her stage name k.d. lang, is a Canadian pop and country singer-songwriter and occasional actress. Lang has won Juno Awards and Grammy Awards for her musical performances. Hits include the s ...
's album ''Shadowland'' with country stars
Kitty Wells Ellen Muriel Deason (August 30, 1919 – July 16, 2012), known professionally as Kitty Wells, was an American pioneering female country music singer. She broke down a barrier to women in country music with her 1952 hit recording "It Wasn't God W ...
and
Brenda Lee Brenda Mae Tarpley (born December 11, 1944), known professionally as Brenda Lee, is an American singer. Performing rockabilly, pop and country music, she had 47 US chart hits during the 1960s and is ranked fourth in that decade, surpassed onl ...
, "Honky Tonk Angels Medley". The album was certified gold and was Grammy nominated for the four women. Lynn's 1988 album '' Who Was That Stranger'' would be her last solo album for MCA, which she parted ways with in 1989. She was inducted into the
Country Music Hall of Fame The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, Tennessee, is one of the world's largest museums and research centers dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of American vernacular music. Chartered in 1964, the museum has amas ...
in 1988.


1990–2004: Return to country and second autobiography

Lynn returned to the public eye in 1993 with a hit album, the trio album ''Honky Tonk Angels'', recorded with
Dolly Parton Dolly Rebecca Parton (born January 19, 1946) is an American singer-songwriter, actress, philanthropist, and businesswoman, known primarily for her work in country music. After achieving success as a songwriter for others, Parton made her album d ...
and
Tammy Wynette Tammy Wynette (born Virginia Wynette Pugh; May 5, 1942 – April 6, 1998) was an American country music artist, as well as an actress and author. She is considered among the genre's most influential and successful artists. Along with Loretta Ly ...
. The album peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard Country charts and No. 42 on the Billboard Pop charts and charted a single with "Silver Threads and Golden Needles". The album sold more than 800,000 copies and was certified gold in the United States and Canada. The trio was nominated for Grammy and Country Music Association awards. Lynn released a three-CD boxed set chronicling her career on MCA Records. In 1995, she taped a seven-week series on the Nashville Network ( TNN), ''Loretta Lynn & Friends''. In 1995, Loretta was presented with the Pioneer Award at the 30th Academy of Country Music Awards. In 1996, Lynn's husband, Oliver Vanetta "Doolittle" Lynn, died five days short of his 70th birthday. In 2000, Lynn released her first album in several years, '' Still Country'', in which she included "I Can't Hear the Music", a tribute song to her late husband. She released her first new single in more than 10 years from the album, "Country in My Genes". The single charted on the Billboard Country singles chart and made Lynn the first woman in country music to chart singles in five decades. In 2002, Lynn published her second autobiography, '' Still Woman Enough'', and it became her second ''
New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid d ...
'' Best Seller, peaking in the top 10. In 2004, she published a cookbook, ''You're Cookin' It Country''.


2004–2022: Late career resurgence

In 2004, Lynn released ''
Van Lear Rose ''Van Lear Rose'' is the forty-second solo studio album by American country music singer-songwriter Loretta Lynn. It was released on April 27, 2004, by Interscope Records. The album was produced by Jack White. The album was widely praised by criti ...
'', the second album on which Lynn either wrote or co-wrote every song. Produced by
Jack White John Anthony White (; born July 9, 1975), commonly known as Jack White, is an American musician, best known as the lead singer and guitarist of the duo the White Stripes. White has enjoyed consistent critical and popular success and is widely c ...
of
The White Stripes The White Stripes were an American rock duo from Detroit formed in 1997. The group consisted of Jack White (songwriter, vocals, guitar, piano, and mandolin) and Meg White (drums and vocals). After releasing several singles and three albums wit ...
, the album featured guitar and backup vocals by White. The collaboration garnered Lynn high praise from the mainstream and
alternative rock Alternative rock, or alt-rock, is a category of rock music that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1970s and became widely popular in the 1990s. "Alternative" refers to the genre's distinction from Popular culture, mainstre ...
music press, such as ''Spin'' and ''Blender''.Loretta Lynn Recovering From Surgery
". CBS News, June 8, 2006. Retrieved February 4, 2007.
''
Rolling Stone ''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first kno ...
'' voted it the second best album of 2004, and it won the Grammy Award for Best Country Album of the Year. Late in 2010,
Sony Music Sony Music Entertainment (SME), also known as simply Sony Music, is an American multinational music company. Being owned by the parent conglomerate Sony Group Corporation, it is part of the Sony Music Group, which is owned by Sony Entertainment ...
released a new compilation album, '' Coal Miner's Daughter: A Tribute to Loretta Lynn'', featuring stars like
Reba McEntire Reba Nell McEntire (born March 28, 1955), or simply Reba, is an American country music singer and actress. Dubbed " the Queen of Country", she has sold more than 75 million records worldwide. Since the 1970s, McEntire has placed over 100 single ...
,
Faith Hill Audrey Faith McGraw (; born September 21, 1967), known professionally as Faith Hill, is an American singer and actress. She is one of the most successful country music artists of all time, having sold more than 40 million albums worldwide. Hill' ...
,
Paramore Paramore is an American rock band from Franklin, Tennessee, formed in 2004. The band currently consists of lead vocalist Hayley Williams, guitarist Taylor York and drummer Zac Farro. Williams and Farro are founding members of the group, whil ...
, and
Carrie Underwood Carrie Marie Underwood (born March 10, 1983) is an American singer. She rose to prominence after winning the fourth season of ''American Idol'' in 2005. Her single "Inside Your Heaven" made her the only country artist to debut atop the ''Bill ...
performing Lynn's classic hits spanning 50 years. The album produced a Top 10 hit music video on
Great American Country Great American Family is an American cable television network. Owned by Great American Media, it broadcasts family-oriented general entertainment programming, including television series and made-for-TV movies. It was originally established in ...
of the single "Coal Miner's Daughter", featuring Lynn,
Miranda Lambert Miranda Leigh Lambert (born November 10, 1983) is an American country singer and guitarist. Born in Longview, Texas, she started out in early 2001 when she released her self-titled debut album independently. In 2003, she finished in third place o ...
and
Sheryl Crow Sheryl Suzanne Crow (born February 11, 1962) is an American musician, singer, songwriter and actress. Her music incorporates elements of rock, pop, country, folk, and blues. She has released eleven studio albums, five compilations and three li ...
. The track cracked the Billboard singles chart, making Lynn the only female country artist to chart in six decades. Lynn's concerts during this period included performances at the
Nelsonville Music Festival The Nelsonville Music Festival is an annual four-day music festival located at the Historic Village of Robbins Crossing at Hocking College in Nelsonville, Ohio. The event in Southeastern Ohio usually takes place in late May or early June and featu ...
in
Nelsonville, Ohio Nelsonville is a city in northwest York Township in Athens County, Ohio. It is 60 miles southeast of Columbus. The population was 4,612 at the 2020 census originally, but an official citywide recount found the population to be 5,373, thus main ...
in May 2010,"Past Shows" Stuart's Opera House: Nelsonville, Ohio. Stuart's Opera House: Nelsonville, Ohio, n.d. Web. October 8, 2012. and at the
Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival The Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival is an American annual four-day music festival developed and founded by Superfly Presents and AC Entertainment. Since its first year in 2002, it has been held at what is now Great Stage Park on a farm in ...
on June 11, 2011. In 2012, Lynn published her third autobiography, ''Honky Tonk Girl: My Life in Lyrics''. She also contributed "Take Your Gun and Go, John" to '' Divided & United: Songs of the Civil War'', released on November 5, 2013. In November 2015, Lynn announced the completion of a new album, '' Full Circle''. Released in March 2016, the album debuted at No. 19 on the
Billboard Hot 200 The ''Billboard'' 200 is a record chart ranking the 200 most popular music albums and EPs in the United States. It is published weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine and is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artist ...
and went on to become Lynn's 40th album to make the Top 10 on
Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...
's best selling country chart. It featured a combination of new songs and classics, and duets with
Elvis Costello Declan Patrick MacManus Order of the British Empire, OBE (born 25 August 1954), known professionally as Elvis Costello, is an English singer-songwriter and record producer. He has won multiple awards in his career, including a Grammy Award in ...
and
Willie Nelson Willie Hugh Nelson (born April 29, 1933) is an American country musician. The critical success of the album ''Shotgun Willie'' (1973), combined with the critical and commercial success of ''Red Headed Stranger'' (1975) and '' Stardust'' (197 ...
. Lynn's holiday album '' White Christmas Blue'' was released in October 2016. In December of the same year, ''Full Circle'' was nominated for Country Album of the Year in the
59th Annual Grammy Awards The 59th Annual Grammy Awards ceremony was held on February 12, 2017. The CBS network broadcast the show live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The ceremony recognized the best recordings, compositions, and artists of the eligibility year, ...
. Following ''Full Circle'', the album '' Wouldn't It Be Great'' was released by Legacy Recordings in September 2018 after being delayed by health issues, which had caused Lynn to cancel all of her scheduled tour dates in 2017. Lynn was named Artist of a Lifetime by CMT in 2018. On October 19, 2019, Lifetime aired the movie ''Patsy & Loretta'' which highlighted the friendship of Lynn and Patsy Cline. On March 19, 2021, Lynn released her 50th studio album '' Still Woman Enough'', the fourth album of her deal with Legacy Recordings. Recorded in sessions at Cash Cabin in Tennessee, it features
Carrie Underwood Carrie Marie Underwood (born March 10, 1983) is an American singer. She rose to prominence after winning the fourth season of ''American Idol'' in 2005. Her single "Inside Your Heaven" made her the only country artist to debut atop the ''Bill ...
and
Reba McEntire Reba Nell McEntire (born March 28, 1955), or simply Reba, is an American country music singer and actress. Dubbed " the Queen of Country", she has sold more than 75 million records worldwide. Since the 1970s, McEntire has placed over 100 single ...
on the title track, alongside duets with
Tanya Tucker Tanya Denise Tucker (born October 10, 1958) is an American country music singer and songwriter who had her first hit, "Delta Dawn", in 1972 at the age of 13. Over the succeeding decades, Tucker became one of the few child performers to mature int ...
and
Margo Price Margo Rae Price (born April 15, 1983) is an American country singer-songwriter and producer based in Nashville, Tennessee. ''The Fader'' has called her "country's next star." Her debut solo album '' Midwest Farmer's Daughter'' was released on T ...
on re-recordings of " You Ain't Woman Enough" and "
One's on the Way "One's on the Way" is a song made famous by country music singer Loretta Lynn. Originally released in 1971, the song was the title track to her 1971 album and became one of her best-known hits. It was written by Shel Silverstein. About the song Co ...
", respectively.


Personal life


Children

Loretta and
Oliver Lynn Oliver Vanetta Lynn, Jr. (August 27, 1926 – August 22, 1996), commonly known as Doolittle Lynn (also Doo and Mooney) was an American talent manager and country music figure, known as the husband of country music legend Loretta Lynn. Over the ...
had six children together, four of whom are still alive, including twin daughters
Peggy Jean This is a list of characters from the comic strip ''Peanuts'' by Charles M. Schulz. This list contains limited information on the characters; for more, visit their respective articles. Main characters Snoopy's siblings Spike. Unseen charact ...
and Patsy Eileen, born on August 6, 1964. They were named after Lynn's sister, Peggy Sue Wright, and her friend,
Patsy Cline Patsy is a given name often used as a diminutive of the feminine given name Patricia or sometimes the masculine name Patrick, or occasionally other names containing the syllable "Pat" (such as Cleopatra, Patience, Patrice, or Patricia). Among I ...
. Lynn’s eldest daughter, Betty Sue was born on November 26, 1948, and died of complications associated with emphysema on 29 July, 2013. Second child and eldest son, Jack Benny Lynn, born December 7, 1949, was found deceased on July 24, 1984, after going missing whilst horse riding on his mother’s Hurricane Mills ranch. Additionally, Loretta’s third and fourth children are Ernest Ray Lynn, born May 27, 1951, and Clara Marie “Cissie” Lynn, born less than a year later on April 7, 1952.


Marriage

Lynn was married to Oliver Vanetta "Doolittle" Lynn (1926–1996) almost 50 years until her husband died at age 69. In her 2002 autobiography, '' Still Woman Enough'', and in an interview with
CBS News CBS News is the news division of the American television and radio service CBS. CBS News television programs include the ''CBS Evening News'', ''CBS Mornings'', news magazine programs '' CBS News Sunday Morning'', '' 60 Minutes'', and '' 48 H ...
the same year, she recounted how her husband cheated on her regularly and once left her while she was giving birth. Lynn and her husband fought frequently, but she said that "he never hit me one time that I didn't hit him back twice." Loretta said that her marriage was "one of the hardest love stories". In one of her autobiographies, she recalled:


Loretta Lynn's Ranch

Lynn owned a ranch in
Hurricane Mills, Tennessee Hurricane Mills is an unincorporated area, unincorporated community in Humphreys County, Tennessee, Humphreys County, Tennessee, United States. Its ZIP code is 37078. The community is centered on Loretta Lynn's Ranch, which features a small number ...
, known as Loretta Lynn's Ranch. Billed as "the seventh largest attraction in Tennessee", it features a recording studio, museums, lodging, restaurants, and western stores. Traditionally, three holiday concerts are hosted annually at the ranch, Memorial Day Weekend, Fourth of July Weekend, and Labor Day Weekend. Since 1982, the ranch has hosted Loretta Lynn's Amateur Championship
motocross Motocross is a form of off-road motorcycle racing held on enclosed off-road circuits. The sport evolved from motorcycle trials competitions held in the United Kingdom. History Motocross first evolved in Britain from motorcycle trials competi ...
race, the largest amateur motocross race of its kind. The ranch also hosts
GNCC Racing The Grand National Cross Country Series is an American motorcycle racing series. The off-road race series was founded by Dave Coombs in 1975 and is sanctioned by the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA). The competition is similar to moto ...
events. The centerpiece of the ranch is its large plantation home which Lynn once resided in with her husband and children. She had not lived in the
antebellum Antebellum, Latin for "before war", may refer to: United States history * Antebellum South, the pre-American Civil War period in the Southern United States ** Antebellum Georgia ** Antebellum South Carolina ** Antebellum Virginia * Antebellum ...
mansion in more than 30 years prior to her death. Lynn regularly greeted fans who were touring the house. A replica of the cabin in which Lynn grew up in Butcher Hollow is one of its main features.


Politics

At the height of her popularity, some of Lynn's songs were banned from radio airplay, including " Rated "X"", about the double standards divorced women face; " Wings Upon Your Horns", about the loss of teenage virginity; and "
The Pill The combined oral contraceptive pill (COCP), often referred to as the birth control pill or colloquially as "the pill", is a type of birth control that is designed to be taken orally by women. The pill contains two important hormones: proges ...
", with lyrics by T. D. Bayless, about a wife and mother becoming liberated by the birth-control pill. Her song "Dear Uncle Sam", released in 1966, during the
Vietnam War The Vietnam War (also known by #Names, other names) was a conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. It was the second of the Indochina Wars and was officially fought between North Vie ...
, describes a wife's anguish at the loss of a husband to war. It was included in her live performances during the
Iraq War {{Infobox military conflict , conflict = Iraq War {{Nobold, {{lang, ar, حرب العراق (Arabic) {{Nobold, {{lang, ku, شەڕی عێراق (Kurdish languages, Kurdish) , partof = the Iraq conflict (2003–present), I ...
. Although Lynn was outspoken about her views on controversial social and political subjects, she stated, "I don't like to talk about things where you're going to get one side or the other unhappy. My music has no politics." When asked about her position on
same-sex marriage Same-sex marriage, also known as gay marriage, is the marriage of two people of the same Legal sex and gender, sex or gender. marriage between same-sex couples is legally performed and recognized in 33 countries, with the most recent being ...
by ''
USA Today ''USA Today'' (stylized in all uppercase) is an American daily middle-market newspaper and news broadcasting company. Founded by Al Neuharth on September 15, 1982, the newspaper operates from Gannett's corporate headquarters in Tysons, Virgini ...
'' in November 2010, she replied, "I'm still an old Bible girl. God said you need to be a woman and man, but everybody to their own." She endorsed and campaigned for
George H. W. Bush George Herbert Walker BushSince around 2000, he has been usually called George H. W. Bush, Bush Senior, Bush 41 or Bush the Elder to distinguish him from his eldest son, George W. Bush, who served as the 43rd president from 2001 to 2009; pr ...
in the presidential election in 1988. While a recognized "advocate for ordinary women", Lynn often criticized upper-class feminism for ignoring the needs and concerns of working-class women. She rejected being labeled a
feminist Feminism is a range of socio-political movements and ideologies that aim to define and establish the political, economic, personal, and social equality of the sexes. Feminism incorporates the position that society prioritizes the male po ...
, and wrote in her memoir, "I'm not a big fan of women's liberation, but maybe it will help women stand up for the respect they're due." In 1971, Lynn performed at the
White House The White House is the official residence and workplace of the president of the United States. It is located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., and has been the residence of every U.S. president since John Adams in 1800. ...
, at the invitation of President
Richard Nixon Richard Milhous Nixon (January 9, 1913April 22, 1994) was the 37th president of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as a representative and senator from California and was ...
. She returned there to perform during the administrations of
Jimmy Carter James Earl Carter Jr. (born October 1, 1924) is an American politician who served as the 39th president of the United States from 1977 to 1981. A member of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party, he previously served as th ...
,
Ronald Reagan Ronald Wilson Reagan ( ; February 6, 1911June 5, 2004) was an American politician, actor, and union leader who served as the 40th president of the United States from 1981 to 1989. He also served as the 33rd governor of California from 1967 ...
, George H. W. Bush, and
George W. Bush George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is an American politician who served as the 43rd president of the United States from 2001 to 2009. A member of the Republican Party, Bush family, and son of the 41st president George H. W. Bush, he ...
. In 2002's '' Still Woman Enough'', she discussed her longtime friendship and support for Jimmy Carter. In 2016, Lynn expressed support for
Donald Trump Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021. Trump graduated from the Wharton School of the University of Pe ...
's
presidential campaign President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) *President (education), a leader of a college or university * President (government title) President may also refer to: Automobiles * Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese fu ...
, stumping for him at the end of each of her shows. She stated, "I just think he's the only one who's going to turn this country around." Lynn allowed PETA to use her song " I Wanna Be Free" in a public service campaign to discourage the chaining of dogs outdoors in the cold.


Health and death

Over the years, Lynn suffered from various health concerns, including
pneumonia Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung primarily affecting the small air sacs known as alveoli. Symptoms typically include some combination of productive or dry cough, chest pain, fever, and difficulty breathing. The severity ...
on multiple occasions and a broken arm after a fall at home. In May 2017, Lynn had a stroke at her home in Hurricane Mills. She was taken to a Nashville hospital and as a result had to cancel all of her upcoming tour dates. The release of her album '' Wouldn't It Be Great'' was delayed until 2018. On January 1, 2018, Lynn fell and broke her hip. Lynn died in her sleep at her home in Hurricane Mills on October 4, 2022, at the age of 90. No cause of death was immediately given. She was buried three days later on her Hurricane Mills ranch beside her husband Oliver.


Awards and achievements

Lynn wrote more than 160 songs and released 60 albums. She had 10 No. 1 albums and 16 No. 1 singles on the country charts. Lynn won three
Grammy Award The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pres ...
s, seven
American Music Awards The American Music Awards (AMAs) is an annual American music awards show, generally held in the fall, created by Dick Clark in 1973 for ABC when the network's contract to air the Grammy Awards expired, and currently produced by Dick Clark Pro ...
, eight
Broadcast Music Incorporated Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) is a performance rights organization in the United States. It collects blanket license fees from businesses that use music, entitling those businesses to play or sync any songs from BMI's repertoire of over 20.6 mill ...
awards, 13
Academy of Country Music The Academy of Country Music (ACM) was founded in 1964 in Los Angeles, California as the Country & Western Music Academy. Among the founders were Eddie Miller, Tommy Wiggins, and Mickey and Chris Christensen. They wanted to promote country music ...
, eight Country Music Association, and 26 fan-voted Music City News awards. Lynn remains the most awarded woman in country music history. She was the first woman in country music to receive a certified
gold album Music recording certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped, sold, or streamed a certain number of units. The threshold quantity varies by type (such as album, single, music video) and by nation or territory (see ...
for 1967's ''Don't Come Home a' Drinkin' (With Lovin' on Your Mind)''. In 1972, Lynn was the first woman named "Entertainer of the Year" by the Country Music Association. In 1980, she was the only woman to be named "Artist of the Decade" for the 1970s by the Academy of Country Music. Lynn was inducted into the
Country Music Hall of Fame The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, Tennessee, is one of the world's largest museums and research centers dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of American vernacular music. Chartered in 1964, the museum has amas ...
in 1988
Loretta Lynn
''. Country Music Hall of Fame. Retrieved February 4, 2007.
and the Country Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 1999. She was also the recipient of Kennedy Center Honors, an award given the President of the United States, in 2003. Lynn is ranked 65th on VH1's 100 Greatest Women of Rock & Roll
100 Greatest Women of Rock & Roll
''. VH1. Retrieved February 4, 2007.
and was the first female country artist to receive a star on the
Hollywood Walk of Fame The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a historic landmark which consists of more than 2,700 five-pointed terrazzo and brass stars embedded in the sidewalks along 15 blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street in Hollywood, Californ ...
in 1977.Hollywood Walk of Fame directory
". Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved February 4, 2007.
In 1994, she received the country music pioneer award from the Academy of Country Music. In 2001, "Coal Miner's Daughter" was named among
NPR National Public Radio (NPR, stylized in all lowercase) is an American privately and state funded nonprofit media organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., with its NPR West headquarters in Culver City, California. It differs from other ...
's "100 Most Significant Songs of the 20th Century". In 2002, Lynn had the highest ranking, No. 3, for any living female, in CMT television's special of the ''40 Greatest Women of Country Music''. A BMI affiliate for more than 45 years, Lynn was honored as a BMI Icon at the BMI Country Awards on November 4, 2004. In March 2007, Lynn was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Music from
Berklee College of Music Berklee College of Music is a private music college in Boston, Massachusetts. It is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world. Known for the study of jazz and modern American music, it also offers college-level cours ...
during her performance at the Grand Ole Opry. Lynn was inducted into the
Songwriters Hall of Fame The Songwriters Hall of Fame (SHOF) is an American institution founded in 1969 by songwriter Johnny Mercer, music publisher/songwriter Abe Olman, and publisher/executive Howie Richmond to honor those whose work, represent, and maintain, the her ...
in New York City in 2008. She received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award for her 50 years in country music in 2010. Lynn was honored for 50 years in country music at the 44th Annual Country Music Awards on November 10, 2010. That same year, Lynn was presented with a
rose A rose is either a woody perennial flowering plant of the genus ''Rosa'' (), in the family Rosaceae (), or the flower it bears. There are over three hundred species and tens of thousands of cultivars. They form a group of plants that can be ...
named in her honor. Sony Music released a tribute CD to Lynn titled '' Coal Miner's Daughter: A Tribute to Loretta Lynn'' in November 2010''.'' The CD features
Kid Rock Robert James Ritchie (born January 17, 1971), known professionally as Kid Rock (also known as Bobby Shazam), is an American singer, songwriter and rapper. His style alternates between rock, hip hop, country, and metal. A self-taught musician, ...
,
Reba McEntire Reba Nell McEntire (born March 28, 1955), or simply Reba, is an American country music singer and actress. Dubbed " the Queen of Country", she has sold more than 75 million records worldwide. Since the 1970s, McEntire has placed over 100 single ...
,
Sheryl Crow Sheryl Suzanne Crow (born February 11, 1962) is an American musician, singer, songwriter and actress. Her music incorporates elements of rock, pop, country, folk, and blues. She has released eleven studio albums, five compilations and three li ...
,
Miranda Lambert Miranda Leigh Lambert (born November 10, 1983) is an American country singer and guitarist. Born in Longview, Texas, she started out in early 2001 when she released her self-titled debut album independently. In 2003, she finished in third place o ...
,
Alan Jackson Alan Eugene Jackson (born October 17, 1958) is an American singer-songwriter. He is known for blending traditional honky-tonk and mainstream country pop sounds (for a style widely regarded as "neotraditional country"), as well as penning many o ...
,
Gretchen Wilson Gretchen Frances Wilson (born June 26, 1973) is an American country music singer and songwriter. She made her debut in March 2004 with the Grammy Award-winning single "Redneck Woman", a number-one hit on the '' Billboard'' country charts. The so ...
,
The White Stripes The White Stripes were an American rock duo from Detroit formed in 1997. The group consisted of Jack White (songwriter, vocals, guitar, piano, and mandolin) and Meg White (drums and vocals). After releasing several singles and three albums wit ...
,
Martina McBride Martina Mariea McBride (née Schiff, born July 29, 1966) is an American country music singer-songwriter and record producer. She is known for her soprano singing range and her country pop material. McBride was born in Sharon, Kansas, and reloc ...
,
Paramore Paramore is an American rock band from Franklin, Tennessee, formed in 2004. The band currently consists of lead vocalist Hayley Williams, guitarist Taylor York and drummer Zac Farro. Williams and Farro are founding members of the group, whil ...
, Steve Earle, and
Faith Hill Audrey Faith McGraw (; born September 21, 1967), known professionally as Faith Hill, is an American singer and actress. She is one of the most successful country music artists of all time, having sold more than 40 million albums worldwide. Hill' ...
. In 2011, Lynn was nominated for an Academy of Country Music, CMT Video and Country Music Association awards for "Vocal Event of the Year" with Miranda Lambert and Sheryl Crow for "Coal Miner's Daughter", released as a video and single from the CD. Lynn marked her 50th anniversary as a
Grand Ole Opry The ''Grand Ole Opry'' is a weekly American country music stage concert in Nashville, Tennessee, founded on November 28, 1925, by George D. Hay as a one-hour radio "barn dance" on WSM. Currently owned and operated by Opry Entertainment (a divis ...
member Member may refer to: * Military jury, referred to as "Members" in military jargon * Element (mathematics), an object that belongs to a mathematical set * In object-oriented programming, a member of a class ** Field (computer science), entries in ...
on September 25, 2012, and her 60th anniversary in 2022. Lynn was awarded the
Presidential Medal of Freedom The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the highest civilian award of the United States, along with the Congressional Gold Medal. It is an award bestowed by the president of the United States to recognize people who have made "an especially merito ...
by
Barack Obama Barack Hussein Obama II ( ; born August 4, 1961) is an American politician who served as the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, Obama was the first African-American president of the U ...
in 2013. Miranda Lambert presented Lynn with the Crystal Milestone Award from the Academy of Country Music. Lynn also received the 2015 Billboard Legacy Award for Women in Music. In 2016, she was the subject of an
American Masters ''American Masters'' is a PBS television series which produces biographies on enduring writers, musicians, visual and performing artists, dramatists, filmmakers, and those who have left an indelible impression on the cultural landscape of the ...
profile documentary ''Loretta Lynn: Still a Mountain Girl'' on
PBS The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) is an American public broadcasting, public broadcaster and Non-commercial activity, non-commercial, Terrestrial television, free-to-air television network based in Arlington, Virginia. PBS is a publicly fu ...
. Lynn was named Artist of a Lifetime in 2018 by CMT. In 2020 a statue of Loretta Lynn was unveiled on the
Ryman Ryman is a stationery retail company with 205 outlets nationwide in the United Kingdom. The website and stores provide a wide range of stationery and office supplies for homes and businesses, with its headquarters in Crewe, Cheshire. Hist ...
's Icon Walk. In 2022 Loretta Lynn was inducted into the Women Songwriters Hall of Fame.


Discography

Studio albums *''
Loretta Lynn Sings ''Loretta Lynn Sings'' is the debut studio album by American country singer-songwriter Loretta Lynn. It was released on December 9, 1963 via Decca Records and was produced by Owen Bradley. The album contained songs recorded shortly after she had ...
'' (1963) *''
Before I'm Over You ''Before I'm Over You'' is a studio album by American country singer-songwriter Loretta Lynn. It was released on June 22, 1964 via Decca Records and was produced by Owen Bradley. It was Lynn's second studio album issued in her recording career a ...
'' (1964) *'' Songs from My Heart....'' (1965) *'' Blue Kentucky Girl'' (1965) *''
Mr. and Mrs. Used to Be "Mr. and Mrs. Used to Be" is a song written by Billy Joe Deaton that was originally performed by American country music artists Loretta Lynn and Ernest Tubb. It was released as a single in July 1964 via Decca Records. Background and reception " ...
'' (1965) *''
Hymns A hymn is a type of song, and partially synonymous with devotional song, specifically written for the purpose of adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification. The word ''hymn'' ...
'' (1965) *'' I Like 'Em Country'' (1966) *'' You Ain't Woman Enough'' (1966) *'' Country Christmas'' (1966) *''
Don't Come Home a Drinkin' (With Lovin' on Your Mind) ''Don't Come Home a Drinkin' (With Lovin' on Your Mind)'' is the ninth solo studio album by American country music singer-songwriter Loretta Lynn. It was released on February 6, 1967, by Decca Records. Critical reception In the issue dated Fe ...
'' (1967) *'' Singin' Again'' (1967) *''
Singin' with Feelin' ''Singin' with Feelin is the tenth solo studio album by American country music singer-songwriter Loretta Lynn. It was released on October 9, 1967, by Decca Records. Critical reception '' Billboard'' published a review in the issue dated Octobe ...
'' (1967) *'' Who Says God Is Dead!'' (1968) *''
Fist City "Fist City" is a country music song written and performed by Loretta Lynn, released in 1968. Inspired by her husband's dalliances with other women who pursued him while she was busy touring, Lynn wrote the song as a warning for other women to stay ...
'' (1968) *'' Your Squaw Is on the Warpath'' (1969) *'' If We Put Our Heads Together'' (1969) *''
Woman of the World/To Make a Man ''Woman of the World/To Make a Man'' is the fourteenth solo studio album by American country music singer-songwriter Loretta Lynn. It was released on July 7, 1969, by Decca Records. The album includes a cover of " Stand by Your Man", originally ...
'' (1969) *'' Here's Loretta Singing "Wings Upon Your Horns"'' (1970) *'' Coal Miner's Daughter'' (1971) *''
We Only Make Believe ''We Only Make Believe'' is the first collaborative studio album by Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn. It was released on February 1, 1971, by Decca Records. This was the first of ten albums Twitty and Lynn would release. The album's first track i ...
'' (1971) *'' I Wanna Be Free'' (1971) *'' You're Lookin' at Country'' (1971) *'' Lead Me On'' (1972) *''
One's on the Way "One's on the Way" is a song made famous by country music singer Loretta Lynn. Originally released in 1971, the song was the title track to her 1971 album and became one of her best-known hits. It was written by Shel Silverstein. About the song Co ...
'' (1972) *'' God Bless America Again'' (1972) *''
Here I Am Again ''Here I Am Again'' is the twenty-first solo studio album by American country music singer-songwriter Loretta Lynn. It was released on October 2, 1972, by Decca Records. The album features liner notes written by Lynn's mother, Clara Butcher, who ...
'' (1972) *'' Entertainer of the Year'' (1973) *'' Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man'' (1973) *'' Love Is the Foundation'' (1973) *'' Country Partners'' (1974) *''
They Don't Make 'Em Like My Daddy ''They Don't Make 'em Like My Daddy'' is the twenty-fourth solo studio album by American country music singer-songwriter Loretta Lynn. It was released on September 2, 1974, by MCA Records. Critical reception In the September 14 issue, ''Billboa ...
'' (1974) *'' Back to the Country'' (1975) *'' Feelins''' (1975) *''
Home A home, or domicile, is a space used as a permanent or semi-permanent residence for one or many humans, and sometimes various companion animals. It is a fully or semi sheltered space and can have both interior and exterior aspects to it. H ...
'' (1975) *'' When the Tingle Becomes a Chill'' (1976) *'' United Talent'' (1976) *'' Somebody Somewhere'' (1976) *'' I Remember Patsy'' (1977) *''
Dynamic Duo Dynamic duo may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Music Groups *Dúo Dinámico (Spanish for Dynamic Duo), a Spanish musical duo formed in 1958 and one of the main precursors of pop music in Spain *Dynamic Duo (South Korean duo), a South Ko ...
'' (1977) *'' Out of My Head and Back in My Bed'' (1978) *''
Honky Tonk Heroes ''Honky Tonk Heroes'' is a country music album by Waylon Jennings, released in 1973 on RCA Victor. With the exception of "We Had It All", all of the songs on the album were written or co-written by Billy Joe Shaver. The album is considered an im ...
'' (1978) *'' We've Come a Long Way, Baby'' (1979) *'' Diamond Duet'' (1979) *'' Loretta'' (1980) *'' Lookin' Good'' (1980) *'' Two's a Party'' (1981) *'' I Lie'' (1982) *'' Making Love from Memory'' (1982) *'' Lyin', Cheatin', Woman Chasin', Honky Tonkin', Whiskey Drinkin' You'' (1983) *'' Just a Woman'' (1985) *'' Who Was That Stranger'' (1988) *''
Honky Tonk Angels ''Honky Tonk Angels'' is a collaborative studio album by Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn and Tammy Wynette. It was released on November 2, 1993, by Columbia Records. The album was certified Gold by the RIAA on January 5, 1994, for sales of 500,000 c ...
'' (1993) *'' Making More Memories'' (1994) *'' All Time Gospel Favorites'' (1997) *'' Still Country'' (2000) *''
Van Lear Rose ''Van Lear Rose'' is the forty-second solo studio album by American country music singer-songwriter Loretta Lynn. It was released on April 27, 2004, by Interscope Records. The album was produced by Jack White. The album was widely praised by criti ...
'' (2004) *'' Full Circle'' (2016) *'' White Christmas Blue'' (2016) *'' Wouldn't It Be Great'' (2018) *'' Still Woman Enough'' (2021)


See also

*
List of country musicians This is an alphabetical list of country music performers. It includes artists who played country music at some point in their career, even if they were not exclusively country music performers. __NOTOC__ 0-9 A B C D E ...


References


Bibliography

* .


Further reading

* ''In the Country of Country: A Journey to the Roots of American Music'', Nicholas Dawidoff, Vintage Books, 1998; * ''Are You Ready for the Country: Elvis, Dylan, Parsons and the Roots of Country Rock'', Peter Dogget, Penguin Books, 2001; * ''Dreaming Out Loud: Garth Brooks, Wynonna Judd, Wade Hayes and the changing face of Nashville'', Bruce Feiler, Avon Books, 1998;


External links

* *
Loretta Lynn's Radio appearance
on "
The Motley Fool The Motley Fool is a private financial and investing advice company based in Alexandria, Virginia. It was founded in July 1993 by co-chairmen and brothers David Gardner and Tom Gardner, and Erik Rydholm, who has since left the company. The compa ...
"
60 Minutes II interview with Loretta Lynn and Jack White

Coal "Minors" Daughter? New Data Offers Light and Controversy on Loretta Lynn
*
Loretta Lynn recordings
at the
Discography of American Historical Recordings The Discography of American Historical Recordings (DAHR) is a database of master recordings made by American record companies during the 78rpm era. The DAHR provides some of these original recordings, free of charge, via audio streaming, along with ...
. {{DEFAULTSORT:Lynn, Loretta 1932 births 2022 deaths Country Music Hall of Fame inductees Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award winners Kennedy Center honorees Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients American country singer-songwriters American women country singers Country musicians from Kentucky Decca Records artists Feminist musicians Grand Ole Opry members Writers from Kentucky Musicians from Appalachia American women songwriters American people of Irish descent American people who self-identify as being of Native American descent Singer-songwriters from Kentucky Age controversies People from Johnson County, Kentucky People from Whatcom County, Washington Singer-songwriters from Washington (state) Guitarists from Kentucky Guitarists from Washington (state) Kentucky women musicians Singers from Kentucky 21st-century American women guitarists 21st-century American guitarists 20th-century American women singers 20th-century American women guitarists 20th-century American guitarists 21st-century American women singers Third Man Records artists 20th-century American singers 21st-century American singers Columbia Records artists Interscope Records artists Burials in Tennessee