Loretta Lynn, a country music legend, died at the age of 90.
TMZ reports that she died of natural causes at her Tennessee home.
The queen of country music has gone on to her reward. Rest In Peace Loretta. pic.twitter.com/yAZ7iLuzfU
— Dr. Benjamin Braddock (@GraduatedBen) October 4, 2022
Lynn’s hit song “Coal Miner’s Daughter” as well as the biographical film of the same name, which won an award, detail her humble beginnings. She was the second child of eight siblings, with country-pop singer Crystal Gayle and Jay Webb being her other siblings.
At the age of 15, she married Oliver Lynn “Doolittle” Lynn. They remained married until his passing in 1996. Together they had six children, four of which survived, including Patsy Lynn Russell who co-produced her mother’s last albums.
In 1960, Lynn signed her first record contract. Success followed shortly thereafter. Conway Twitty recorded her duets, which sold millions of records. She also released 50 solo albums. The most recent was in 2021. Lynn was awarded three Grammys, as well as a host of other awards.
Her songs were often controversial, and many of them explored feminist themes. Although radio didn’t always love songs like “Rated X” or “The Pill”, it didn’t stop them from becoming hits. In many of her songs, she managed to keep a strong and independent streak.
Lynn had a complicated relationship with politics. She was a White House performer for both Democrats and Republicans. She also maintained a close friendship with Jimmy Carter, even though she gave to Republican candidates. Barack Obama gave her the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Yet, she voted for Donald Trump while on tour in 2016.
She continued to tour and record late in her life, despite a 2017 stroke and a broken hip that ended her days on the road. She is now with the God to whom she dedicated multiple Gospel albums. Pray for her family.
