Country Music Stars Come Together To Honor Loretta Lynn

Family, friends, and some of the biggest names in country music gathered at the Grand Ole Opry to honor Loretta Lynn who passed away October 4th at the age of 90.

The celebration of her life and music, hosted by NBC “Today’s” Jenna Bush Hager and broadcast live on CMT, began with words from Loretta herself.

As images of Loretta filled the big video screen, soft music began to play and Loretta’s voice could be heard reading a love letter of sorts, to her fans. She thanked them for giving her such a great life, saying she never took it for granted.

“Because of you, my kids didn’t have to grow up poor the way I did”.

She said that while she shared her stories through her songs, her books, and her movie, she knew she could never repay all her fans had given her.

“I’ve traveled all over the world, but I never got to see much, except for you – my fans, my friends. I want you to know that I saw, and I remember, every one of you. I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I love you. Your friend, Loretta.”

One of the overriding themes of the night was that everyone loved Loretta and considered her a friend. For nearly 90 minutes, her fellow country artists, either through onstage appearances or via video, shared their personal stories of how she touched their lives.

The show’s first musical performance featured Wynonna, joined by the Gaither Vocal Band and Larry Strickland, singing “How Great Thou Art.”

Throughout the evening, Loretta was remembered for her grace and kindness, her encouragement and friendship, her grit and spirit, and the catalogue of songs she wrote and sang that changed country music forever.

Keith Urban shared a funny story about a phone call he got from Loretta in 2018. He held up his cellphone and played the message for the crowd.

Loretta was heard saying, “Hey Keith, I’m having a birthday and I want to see your butt there!”

As everyone laughed, Urban said, “You can bet I was there.”

He then added, “I came running then, I came running tonight, and I will always come running for Miss Loretta.”

With banjo in hand, Urban then launched into a one of her many big hits, “You’re Looking at Country.”

One after another, fellow artists took to the stage to share warm memories and pay tribute to the country music icon, either in person or on video, while a long list of artists performed her songs.

Short videos interspersed between the performances showed Loretta from years past, sharing parts of her story. She talked about growing up in Butcher Hollow, how her husband decided she should become a singer and bought her a guitar she would teach herself to play, and her years as a duet partner with Conway Twitty.

Barbara Mandrell noted, “We all loved Loretta Lynn.” She recalled reading the book “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” and was so in awe of the life Loretta have lived. Mandrell said she later watched the movie at least 11 times while traveling on her tour from show to show.

Martina McBride talked about how Loretta paved the way for others. “The women of country music absolutely could not be who we are today, if she hadn’t gone first. We may still be here, but maybe not writing our own songs or singing about topical issues.”

She went on to say, “Loretta shared her heartache, her feistiness, her spirituality, her childhood, her love for Doo and her kids, and her stories.”

Tanya Tucker performed a beautiful version of Loretta’s “Blue Kentucky Girl.”

Alan Jackson recalled how Loretta was always so sweet to him and often reminded him of his mother. So, he sang a song he’d written for his mother, for Loretta, called “Where Your Heart Has Always Been.”

George Strait called Loretta a “trailblazer, barrier-breaker, original, beautiful, kind, sweet, and one helluva songwriter, singer, and entertainer.” He sang “Don’t Come Home a Drinkin’ in her honor.

There were video tributes from Dolly Parton, Reba McEntire, Taylor Swift, Marty Stuart, Kid Rock, Kasey Musgraves, and Sissy Spacek, who played Loretta in “Coal Miner’s Daughter.”

Spacek said Loretta not only had a major impact on her career, but also on her life, as a friend.

“I love you, I love your family. I got to know you from the inside out by playing you and it was the greatest gift. Thank you for the legacy. You are…an angel. I love you.”

There were many stories of how Loretta influenced other artists, including one involving Jack White. He saw “Coal Miner’s Daughter” as a 9-year old boy in Detroit and was mesmerized by the music and the story. Decades later, he would end up producing a record for Loretta called Van Lear Rose. In 2005, it won a GRAMMY for “Best Country Album of the Year.”

In one of the big surprises of the night (his name wasn’t on the pre-released guest list), Jack White took to the stage to pay tribute to his good friend by performing a dynamic version of “Van Lear Rose.”

Another touching performance featured Loretta Lynn’s granddaughter, Emmy Russel with Lukas Nelson, the grandson of Willie Nelson. They sang “Lay Me Down,” a song their grandparents, Willie and Loretta, recorded together just a little over six years ago.

Toward the end of the evening, Loretta’s daughter and granddaughter expressed thanks to everyone who attended the celebration of life and music, noting how much it meant to their family.

The night ended with Loretta’s signature song “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” performed by the Highwomen and Brittney Spencer.

Loretta Lynn was celebrated as a country music icon whose legacy will live on through her music, her family, and the many lives she touched throughout her amazing life.

Encore performances of “Coal Miner’s Daughter: A Celebration of the Life & Music of Loretta Lynn” will air on CMT on Wed, Nov 2nd at 8pm EST/7pm CT and Sun, Nov 6th at 11am EST/10am CT