50 Years of Music for Loretta Lynn

Not many people realize just how much Loretta Lynn has managed to achieve in her lifetime. With a the release of a tribute album and the CMA acknowledging her contributions to country music, fans are being exposed to sides of Loretta Lynn they were never aware of. Not only is she a fantastic singer but she has proved herself to be an extraordinary songwriter, philanthropist, business woman and even an author. Her talents are endless, and after fifty years in the music industry, Loretta Lynn is receiving the recognition owed to her.

Loretta Lynn was born Loretta Webb in 1934, and enjoyed extreme success during the 1960s and the 1970s. During her career as a singer, she released sixteen singles that were number one on the country hit lists and had more than seventy hit songs as a duet and solo artist. She stunned the world by releasing an autobiography in 1976, Coal Miner’s Daughter. The book was made into a movie in 1980, starring Tommy Lee Jones and Sissy Spacek, and went on to be an Academy Award winning film. Loretta was blessed to have a supportive husband, while raising four children, and who assisted her in every way to get her music heard and on the radio. In 1960, they finally achieved their goal with the song “I’m a Honky Tonk Girl”. Other songs released by Loretta Lynn included “Don’t Come Home A Drinkin’ With Lovin’ On Your Mind”, “Blue Kentucky Girl” and “You’re Lookin’ At Country”.

The tribute album that has been recorded by Faith Hill is called Coal Miner’s Daughters: A Tribute to Loretta Lynn, and features various cover songs that will bring back numerous memories. Hill also managed to secure a number of well known artists to contribute to the project including Martina McBride, Sheryl Crow, Miranda Lambert, Carrie Underwood, Alan Jackson and Kid Rock. Loretta Lynn listened to one of her most famous songs, “Love Is The Foundation”, which was covered by Faith Hill, and has decided to retire from singing it any further, stating: “I ain’t going to sing it no more – it’s fantastic. She made me ashamed I ever sung it.”