Farewell to the Coal Miner’s Daughter

Country music legend, Loretta Lynn, passed away last week. Like many people, I suspect, I listened to some of her music following the news of her passing. I also rewatched the movie based upon her life, Coal Miner's Daughter, last Thursday evening. My family is from Eastern Kentucky and my grandfather on my dad's side was a coal miner. Butcher Hollow and the Van Lear coal mines are not all that far from where my brothers were born.

Loretta Lynn was a pioneer in county music and her songs were sometimes controversial. I particularly enjoy her confrontational songs like "Fist City" and "You Ain't Woman Enough (To Take My Man)" that were drawn from her sometimes troubled marriage to Oliver "Doolittle" Lynn. She was friends with country music icon, Patsy Cline, and has sung with country music legends like Conway Twitty, Dolly Parton, and Tammy Wynette. Some of her latest work as an artist were collaborations with younger artists such as Jack White, Miranda Lambert, and Sheryl Crow. I would encourage anyone to give her music a listen. Likewise, I would also encourage anyone to watch Coal Miner's Daughter.

Below are links to a handful of her many songs. Enjoy!

"Coal Miner's Daughter"

"Don't Come Home A-Drinkin' (With Lovin' On Your Mind)"

"Fist City"

"I'm a Honky Tonk Girl"

"You Ain't Woman Enough (To Take My Man)"