Women in Literature and Music

Loretta Lynn

Born Loretta Webb on April 14, 1932, in Butcher Hollow, Kentucky, USA. Loretta grew up in a poor coal-mining community, in the Appalachian mountains. She was the 2nd of 8 children & began singing in her church choir at a young age. In January 1948, she married Oliver Lynn, a few months before her 16th birthday. The next year, the newlyweds moved to Custer, Washington, where Oliver hoped to find better job opportunities. Over the next few years, he worked in logging camps & Loretta worked odd jobs, so they could support their 4 children, 2 sons, Jack Benny & Ernest Ray & 2 daughters, Betty Sue & Clara May; whom she'd had by her 20th birthday. Loretta went on to give birth to twin girls in 1964 whom she named, Peggy Jean & Patsy Eileen.

Even after her marriage, Loretta never lost her passion for music & with her husband's encouragement, began performing at local venues. Her performance prowess soon earned a contract at Zero Records. Her first record, I'm a Honky Tonk Girl, was released in early 1960; in order to promote the album the Lynn's travelled around the US encouraging country radio stations to play the album. Thanks to their efforts, the title song became a minor success later that year. The family eventually settled in Nashville, Tennessee, it was also around this time Loretta began collaborating with Teddy & Doyle Wilburn, who owned a music publishing company & performed as the Wilburn Brothers. In October 1960, Loretta performed at the legendary country music venue, Grand Ole Opry, after which she signed a contract with Decca Records. Her first hit came in 1962 with the song, Success, which broke into the Top 10 of the country music charts.

After she moved to Nashville, Loretta met lauded country artist, Patsy Cline, who is considered one of the most influential vocalists of the 20th century & one of the first country artists to transition successfully to pop music. Tragically, their friendship was cut short when Patsy was killed in a plane crash in 1963; Loretta was understandably devastated by the loss of a woman who was not only her best friend but a mentor. But this personal tragedy wouldn't keep her down, Loretta's first album, Loretta Lynn Sings (1963), hit the No.2 spot on the country music charts & was followed by several Top 10 country hits including, Wine, Women & Song & Kentucky Girl. It wasn't long after, she began recording her own original songs as well as covering those previously done by other artists; her music often utilized themes of the everyday trials & tribulations of women, while interjecting her own personal sense of wit. But she didn't shy away from more controversial subjects as well including the song, Dear Uncle Sam, which was about the lover of a soldier, whom worries about her lover being sent to fight during the Vietnam War.

In 1966, Loretta released her biggest hit song yet, You Ain't Woman Enough, the title song from that year's album, which reached No.2. In 1967, she had her first No. 1 hit with the song, Don't Come Home a' Drinkin' (with Lovin' on Your Mind), it was another one of the Loretta's songs that was sung from a strong female perspective. That year she was named Female Vocalist of the Year by the Country Music Association. In 1968, she released another chart-topper titled, Fist City, a narrative song about a woman revealing some hard truths about a man, in a conversation with another woman.

Her most famous song, Coal Miner's Daughter, became a No.1 hit, in 1970; in the song, she relives her childhood, which was happy, despite living in poverty. In 1972, Loretta collaborated with Conway Twitty for the song, After the Fire is Gone; the song would go on to win Loretta's 1st Grammy that year. After the Fire is Gone was the first of many collaborations between Loretta & Conway, their other songs include: Lead Me On, Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man & Feelins'. The duo's music revolved around themes of romantic, even adulterous relationships & together they won the CMA Vocal Duo of the Year Award for 4 consecutive years between 1972-75.

Loretta continued producing Top 5 hits independently including, Trouble in Paradise, Hey Loretta, When the Tingle Becomes a Chill & She's Got You. One of her songs, The Pill, even caused a stir in the music industry in 1975, which addressed the advancements in female sexual medicine with the dawn of birth control pills; the song was banned from playing by some radio stations. During the latter half of the 1970's, Loretta became known for sassy, creative songs like, Rated X, Somebody Somewhere (Don't Know what He's Missin' Tonight), Out of my Head & Back in my Bed, all of which reached the No.1 spot on the country music charts.

She published her first autobiography, Coal Miner's Daughter, in 1976. The book quickly became a bestseller & shone a spotlight on the highs & lows of both her professional & personal life with particular emphasis on her tumultuous marriage. Just 4 years later, in 1980, a film adaptation of the book was released, starring Sissy Spacek as Loretta & Tommy Lee Jones as Raymond. Sissy won an Oscar for her role & the film itself was nominated for a total of 7 Academy Awards.

In the 1980's when country music moved toward a mainstream pop sound & away from traditional sound, Loretta fumbled trying to maintain her spot as a top-charting artist. Despite her decline on the charts, her albums still sold well & she made a number of guest appearances on tv shows like, the Dukes of Hazzard, Fantasy Island & the Muppet Show. Her biggest hit of the 80's was, I Lie, released in 1982. While juggling her declining music career, Loretta suffered a massive personal tragedy, when her son, Jack Benny, aged 34, drowned while attempting to cross a river on horseback. Loretta had to be hospitalized after suffering from severe exhaustion after learning of her son's passing.

Loretta was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, in 1988. That year, she began dialing back on her work to look after her husband, who was suffering from heart disease & diabetes. She still made time to collaborate with Dolly Parton & Tammy Wynette, on the 1993 album, Honky Tonk Angels & in 1995, she starred in the limited-tv series, Loretta Lynn & Friends, while travelling on tour. Raymond died the following year, in 1996, bringing their nearly 50 year long marriage to an end.

In 2000, she released the studio album, Still Country, that was well-received but didn't achieve the same heights as her earlier work. Loretta also explored other paths, publishing her memoir, Still Woman Enough, in 2002. She also found an unlikely friend in Jack White, the lead singer of the rock band, The White Stripes, she performed with the band in 2003 & White produced her next album, Van Lear Rose (2004). The final track on the album, The Story of my Life, included short, amusing highlights of her life. Van Lear Rose was a smash hit with listeners & critics alike & served to revive Loretta's flagging career. She described White as a "kindred spirit" in a Vanity Fair interview. White also sung her praises saying, "I want as many people as possible on earth to hear her, because she's the greatest female singer-songwriter of the last century". White & Loretta won 2 Grammys for their work, Best Country Album & Best Country Collab. with Vocals for the song, Portland, Oregon.

After the success of her latest album, Loretta toured performing in concert yearly. Unfortunately, she had to cancel some concert dates in late 2009, due to illness but made a comeback in January 2010, to perform at the University of Central Arkansas. Her son, Ernest Ray & twin daughters, Peggy & Patsy, also performed at the concert. Soon after, Loretta received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award & a tribute album was released, featuring covers of her songs by a variety of different artists including, The White Stripes, Faith Hill, Kid Rock & Sheryl Crow. In 2013, she was commended with the Presidential Medal of Freedom by then President Barack Obama.

Loretta was also bestowed with many other accolades, but tragedy struck again in July 2013, when her eldest daughter, Betty Sue died of complications from emphysema, aged only 64. She was able to overcome her grief, releasing her last album in May 2016 titled, Full Circle; the album was produced by her daughter, Patsy & John Carter Cash, the only child of Johnny Cash & June Carter. Full Circle debuted at No. 4, finally returning Loretta to her place at the top of the country music charts.

In May 2017, the then 85 year old country legend had a stroke in her home & was hospitalized in Nashville. A statement posted on her website, said she was responsive & expected to make a full recovery, though she would cancel some of her upcoming shows. In October of that year she made her first public appearance since her stroke, when she inducted longtime friend & fellow country music legend, Alan Jackson, into the Country Music Hall of Fame. In January 2018, it was announced that Loretta had fractured a hip, during a New Year's celebration at home. Her family made light of the situation, saying her hyperactive new puppy was the cause of her fall.

Loretta Lynn died on October 4, 2022, at home in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee, she was 90 years old. A biographical documentary about Loretta's life was released along with her last album called, Loretta Lynn: Still a Mountain Girl, by PBS in 2016 & a film, Patsy & Loretta was released in 2019, exploring the close friendship between Loretta & Patsy Cline.

Side notes:

Emphysema- a disease that causes COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder), that over time results in the destruction of lung tissues.

https://www.biography.com/musician/loretta-lynn