Over the past fifty years, Loretta Lynn has played a very vital role in the traditional country music scene. Throughout her illustrious country music career, Loretta Lynn has had sixteen songs reach the top of the Billboard Country Charts, and she was the first woman to be named the Country Music Association's (CMA) "Entertainer of the Year" in 1972. At the same time, many of Loretta Lynn's songs were banned from country radio, two of which were "The Pill" and "Rated X."
Loretta Lynn: True Country Music Pioneer
A close friend of the late Patsy Cline, Ms. Lynn helped pave the way for women in country music and has been the inspiration for many contemporary female country vocalists including Lee Ann Womack, Martina McBride, Reba McEntire and Faith Hill to name a few.
For all her accomplishments in country music, in 2002, Country Music Television (CMT) honored Loretta Lynn in its "40 Greatest Women of Country Music" episode, placing her at #3, right after Tammy Wynette and Patsy Cline.
In 1995, Loretta Lynn was honored by fellow country vocalists Reba McEntire, Pam Tillis, Faith Hill and Patty Loveless with the coveted Academy of Country Music's (ACM) Pioneer Award. In her emotional acceptance speech, Loretta Lynn noted her surprise for this award and remarked that her "husband kept telling me I had to come." She went on to thank her husband, Doo Lynn, who inspired her to go in the music business, at a time when it was unusual for women to do so.
In April of 2004, Loretta Lynn's acclaimed album "Van Lear Rose" was released, in which all of the songs were either written or co-written by Loretta Lynn. In the melancholic, yet beautiful "Miss Being Mrs." Loretta laments losing her husband Doo, and therefore misses being "Mrs." This tune garnered a Grammy nomination for "Best Female Country Vocal Performance." Bluegrass vocalist Alison Krauss presented Lynn and collaborator Jack White with the "Best Country Album" Grammy for her album "Van Lear Rose."
In Loretta Lynn's Grammy acceptance speech, she remarked that "the main thing about country music is that I love to sing it, and there's a lot of people that love to hear country music." Lynn took the time to thank fellow vocalist Jack White from the band, The White Stripes, who collaborated on this album with her. In his acceptance speech, Jack White noted that "although country radio would not play this record, look who's #1 now. You're an American treasure Loretta. God bless you!"
Loretta Lynn: Recipient of Johnny Cash Visionary Award
In 2005, Reba McEntire presented Loretta Lynn with the "Johnny Cash Visionary Award" at the CMT Flameworthy Awards. Prior to presenting Lynn the award, McEntire noted that Lynn and her music have inspired three generations of women including Reba McEntire, Martina McBride and Gretchen Wilson.
Lynn went on to express her gratitude to the fans and to these aforementioned women on how proud of them she is with what they've accomplished in country music. Lynn remarked about McBride, who was pregnant at the time, "Martina's going to have a little girl and she's going to name it after me." She went on to joke: "I'm only kidding. She wouldn't be that mean."
Loretta Lynn's Life: Subject of Academy-Award Winning Film
In 1980, Loretta Lynn's life was made into an Academy-Award winning film entitled "Coal Miner's Daughter." Sissy Spacek won the Academy Award for Best Actress in a leading role for her stellar performance as Ms. Lynn, who came from humble beginnings. Tommy Lee Jones also starred in the film as Loretta Lynn's husband, Doo Lynn.
Particularly impressive about Spacek's acclaimed performance in this motion picture, was that not only was able to look the part, but she did her own singing as well, performing Lynn's beloved classics such as "Honky Tonk Girl," "You Ain't Woman Enough" and "Coal Miner's Daughter." In addition, Beverly D' Angelo portrayed Patsy Cline in the film, and her performance received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actress.
Country Artists Pay Tribute to Loretta Lynn on Latest Album
In an effort to celebrate Loretta Lynn's fifty year career in country music, Columbia Records Nashville, released a tribute CD on November 9, 2010, entitled "Coal Miner's Daughter: A Tribute to Loretta Lynn." This tribute CD features Loretta Lynn's classic recordings performed by several of her closest friends and contemporary musicians in country music who grew up idolizing her. Such musicians include Martina McBride, Gretchen Wilson, Faith Hill, Lee Ann Womack, Alan Jackson, former American Idol winner Carrie Underwood, and reigning CMA Female Vocalist of the Year Miranda Lambert.
This album features a duet with Miranda Lambert and rock singer Sheryl Crow collaborating with the "country music queen" Loretta Lynn on "Coal Miner's Daughter." Their collaboration has been released as a single on country radio, which currently sits at #55 on the Billboard Country Charts.
The Verdict
At 76 years of age, Loretta Lynn shows no signs of slowing down. Ms. Lynn's tour dates for the 2011 calendar year are available listed on the "Tour" section of her official website.
Loretta Lynn and her illustrious fifty year music career are an inspiration for all aspiring musicians especially those in the country music scene. This "Coal Miner's Daughter" was able to go beyond the ordinary and break doors and mold country music into what it is today.
In addition to Dolly Parton, Tammy Wynette and Patsy Cline, Lynn helped pave the way for many other successful female country music vocalists including Reba McEntire, Martina McBride, Gretchen Wilson and Miranda Lambert. Lynn's music and hit recordings are bound to stand the test of time, especially her autobiographical tune "Coal Miner's Daughter."
Markos Papadatos - Markos Papadatos holds over six years journalism experience, authoring over 700 articles, many of which are feature profile interviews.
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