Country Legends: Loretta Lynn

Loretta Lynn (born Loretta Webb; April 14, 1932) became known as "The First Lady of Country Music" and one of the most successful country vocalists of all time.

Loretta Lynn

She became a part of the country music scene in Nashville in the 1960s, and by 1967 charted her first of 16 number 1 hits, including "Don't Come Home A' Drinkin' (With Lovin' on Your Mind)", "You Ain't Woman Enough", "Fist City", and "Coal Miner's Daughter".

By the end of 1962, it was clear that Loretta Lynn was on her way to becoming a major country star. Although Kitty Wells had become the first major female country vocalist during the 1950s, by the time Lynn recorded her first record, only three other women - Patsy Cline, Skeeter Davis, and Jean Shepard - had become top stars. Lynn credits Patsy Cline as her mentor and best friend during those early years, and would follow her as the most popular country vocalist of the early 1960s and 1970s.

Beginning with 1966's Number 2 hit, "You Ain't Woman Enough", Lynn began writing songs with a feminist viewpoint, which was unheard of in country music at the time. Her album, “Don't Come Home A-Drinkin” went to number one and became one of the first albums by a female country artist to reach sales of 500,000 copies.

As a songwriter, Loretta Lynn addressed issues in the lives of many women which made her stand out among female country vocalists - she believed no topic was off limits as long as it spoke to other women. Loretta Lynn was enormously successful on country radio in the 60’s and 70’s, but when a more pop-flavoured type of country music began in the early 80’s her popularity declined.

Married at the tender age of 13 to Oliver Lynn (Doolittle “Doo” Lynn), they went on to have 4 children before she was 19, and a set of twins (Peggy and Patsy) in the early 60’s. To honour her friend she named Patsy after Patsy Cline, and in 1998 the twins went on to start their own country duo (The Lynns).  

Inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1988 and the Country Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 1999, Loretta Lynn was also the recipient of Kennedy Centre Honours in 2003. She is also ranked 65th on VH1's 100 Greatest Women of Rock & Roll and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

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