The world of country music pays tribute to Loretta Lynn, the coal miner’s daughter
Country music singers, celebrities and fans shared their stories and feelings about Loretta Lynn, the coal miner’s daughter and one of the Queens of country, who passed away at the age of 90 on Tuesday.
Lynn’s family shared the news of her death on Twitter Tuesday. “Our precious mom, Loretta Lynn, passed away peacefully this morning, October 4th, in her sleep at home in her beloved ranch in Hurricane Mills,” the post said on Twitter.
A statement from the family of Loretta Lynn.
— Loretta Lynn (@LorettaLynn) October 4, 2022
"Our precious mom, Loretta Lynn, passed away peacefully this morning, October 4th, in her sleep at home at her beloved ranch in Hurricane Mills.” The family of Loretta Lynn.
From humble beginnings to Queen of Country
Lynn was born Loretta Webb in 1933 in Van Lear, Kentucky, a mining town in the Appalachian mountains. She had seven brothers and sisters who were raised by their father who worked as a coal miner, shopkeeper amongst other odd jobs. Those difficult times were reflected in her songs and she became known as the “Coal Miner’s Daughter” thanks to the popularity of her song by the same name released in 1970. In 1980 a film about her life with the same titled premiered and she published her memoirs in 2010 again with the same title.
In the 1950s she moved to Washington state with her husband to look for work and that’s when she began to learn how to play the guitar. Her husband encouraged her to take up a career in music and she formed a band and began playing in local radio stations and music halls. She went on to sign her first contract and in the late 1960s moved to Nashville, Tennessee. The rest is history.
The country music community shared their feelings on social media
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Lynn influenced generations of country singers and many of them gave stories on how she impacted their lives. Big names in the music industry like Dolly Parton, Sheryl Crow, Carrie Underwood and Margo Price paid homage to the late singer:
— Dolly Parton (@DollyParton) October 4, 2022
She showed us all how to unapologetically tell the truth. One of the greatest there ever will be. I’ll be singing “Dear Miss Loretta” with a little extra love tonight at the @opry ♥️ Now she really is a Honky Tonk Angel 🕊 #RIP pic.twitter.com/fiUNnTrlvZ
— Carly Pearce (@carlypearce) October 4, 2022
The news of @LorettaLynn’s passing just came across my news feed and time stopped. There will never be another like her. May she forever sing with the angels!! #lorettalynn pic.twitter.com/p3KPADswTt
— Sheryl Crow (@SherylCrow) October 4, 2022
She was an inspiration.
— Carole King (@Carole_King) October 4, 2022
R.I.P. Loretta Lynn ❤️ pic.twitter.com/VqwmkcOAqy
The first time I met Loretta Lynn was at the Grand Ole Opry at beginning of my career. I was chatting in the corner with another artist and someone walked behind me and smacked me on the rear end! I turned around and there she was…in a big sparkly dress.. https://t.co/LG40fLLSiG pic.twitter.com/BGfL0SVwEo
— Carrie Underwood (@carrieunderwood) October 4, 2022
One of the highlights of my career was recording this with @LorettaLynn in John Carter Cash’s studio. Here’s me and Loretta and me singin ‘One’s On the Way’, https://t.co/PNPWKUd6eJ
— Margo Price (@MissMargoPrice) October 4, 2022
Loretta Lynn contributed enormously to the world of Country Music. All of us adored and loved her. 💜 pic.twitter.com/M8LIXNu3IQ
— Barbara Mandrell (@barbaramandrell) October 4, 2022
Other celebrities and well-known entertainers, journalists and writers such as Dan Rather, Blake Shelton, Stephen King, Barack Obama, etc, wanted to say goodbye to Lynn on social media and shared their feelings about one of the most influential country singers of all time:
News hits hard with the passing of Loretta Lynn. Her evocative music. Her fierce spirit. A storyteller who used song to channel an America that is quickly vanishing. She was a coal miner's daughter who sparkled like a diamond — brilliant, unbreakable, and resplendent.
— Dan Rather (@DanRather) October 4, 2022
Loretta Lynn has passed on. America’s Van Lear Rose, and mine.
— Stephen King (@StephenKing) October 4, 2022
Celebrating the life of Loretta Lynn. One of my highest honors was being joined by her and George Jones on a song I wrote called “Country Music Has The Blues”. She handed me this wonderful gift on that day. #lorettalynn pic.twitter.com/xUF4IVQMKe
— Billy Ray Cyrus (@billyraycyrus) October 4, 2022
Terrible news about Loretta Lynn passing away… Prayers to her family.
— Blake Shelton (@blakeshelton) October 4, 2022
We are saddened by the loss of Loretta Lynn. In 2013 President Obama awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom, noting she "opened doors for women not only by winning tremendous achievements, but also by raising issues few dared to discuss.” pic.twitter.com/ar2tVkkQYR
— The Obama Foundation (@ObamaFoundation) October 4, 2022