For country music fans, it is a sad day. Country music superstar, Loretta Lynn passed away on October 4th, 2022.
The world of country music is mourning the singer. Tons of tributes from friends, fans, and people in the country music world poured in. Considering how long Lynn has been in the industry and how much of an impact she’s made, it’s not surprising.
Honestly, there have been so many great names within the country music realm, but like so many before her, there was only one Loretta Lynn. With the passing of such an icon, it’s only right that we pay tribute to her.
There is no way women in country music would be where they are without the hard work and effort of Loretta Lynn.
Loretta Lynn helped paved the way for women in country music.
Women in country music have never had it easy. While things are certainly looking up now, the world back when Lynn started was much different. Regardless, she didn’t let the adversity, fear of rejection, or hard work keep her from getting her dream. It’s a tried and true testament that still rings true with female country artists today.
While there are a plethora of reasons why we love Loretta Lynn, I feel like one thing that a lot of women in county music owe her is that she proved you can do it all. While it wasn’t always an easy road for her, she managed to not only be a wife and mother but also write her own music and go on tour along with being a performer. It wasn’t easy, but it made for some compelling stories.
Speaking of stories, Lynn was known for writing her own songs. Most know of her more popular songs such as “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” “Don’t Come Home a Drinkin’ (With Lovin’ on Your Mind)” and “The Pill.” However, Lynn was a powerhouse when it came to writing as she wrote more than 100 songs in her life and recorded a lot of them. For some, it’s unfathomable to write as many as 10 songs, but Loretta Lynn had a knack for it. Plus a lot of her songs reflected what was going on in her life which isn’t always easy to talk about let alone write and record a song about.
What really makes her such a trailblazer in country music was that she never let anything stand in her way. Despite martial woes, the loss of her best friend, Patsy Cline, and living in poverty, she never seemed to let anything get her down. If anything, music became the answer to all of her problems in a way and it stayed that way for decades. Considering that her last release came out in 2021, it’s clear music was her path and she never gave up on it.
Loretta Lynn truly changed the game for women in country music. Whether it was because of her writing, her style, or her work ethic, she blazed a trail we have yet to see repeated. Frankly, I don’t believe we’ll ever see another female country artist do what Loretta Lynn did and that’s a testament in itself. She was among a dying breed and a pioneer for country music. May she rest in peace.
