A Celebration Of Life Honoring Loretta Lynn Will Air Live On CMT

A little more than three weeks after legendary entertainer Loretta Lynn passed away, family, friends, and many country artists will come together for a public memorial honoring both her life and music. Lynn’s family is helping plan the October 30th Celebration of Life in partnership with CMT and Sandbox Productions.

Set to take place at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, memorial service will be broadcast live on CMT (Country Music Television). A limited number of seats were initially open to the public, but at last check (on CMT’s website), there were no more available.

Artists scheduled to perform include Crystal Gayle, Barbara Mandrell, George Strait, Keith Urban, Darius Rucker, Martina McBride, Tanya Tucker, Wynonna, Little Big Town, Sheryl Crow, Emmy Russell & Lukas Nelson, Margo Price, the Highwomen with Brittney Spencer, and others. Organizers say more will be announced as the event draws closer.

NBC “Today Show’s” Jenna Hager will co-host the Celebration of Life which will feature a number of different performances, and some never-before-seen collaborations.

The Celebration of Life will air (commercial free) on Sunday, October 30^th at 7pm ET/6pm CT. It will be shown again on CMT the following Wednesday, Nov 2^nd at 8pm ET/7pm CT) and on Sunday, November 6^th at 11am ET/10am CT.

Loretta Lynn was a country music icon whose career spanned more than six decades. Through her music, and with the help of the 1980 movie Coal Miner’s Daughter starring Sissy Spacek, generations of fans knew the story of the Butcher Hollow, Kentucky native who grew up in poverty, taught herself to play guitar and write songs, and went on to become a country superstar.

Through the course of her lengthy career, she had a staggering 51 Top 10 hits, and won every music award possible from GRAMMY awards to American Music Awards and CMA Awards an to an induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame. She was also a 60-year member of the Grand Old Opry.

She died at her home in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee, on the morning of October 4th. She was 90 years old.

In a press release announced the Celebration of Life, CMT issued a quote from some of its producers:

“We are truly honored to work closely alongside Loretta’s family to create a celebration of life fit for a true queen of country music, Loretta Lynn. She was a true original, a woman who always sang from her heart, never shied away from challenging the status quo and blazed the path forward for her fellow female artists. From her firecracker spirit and signature musicality to her unmistakable country style and unparalleled authenticity, we look forward to honoring her in the best way we know how: sharing stories and songs with her family, friends and the legions of fans she loved dearly.”

Since her death, Loretta’s fellow artists have honored by sharing tributes and performing songs at the Grand Ole Opry and elsewhere.

She was remembered for paving the way for so many of the country artists who followed her at the Country Music Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony this past Sunday.

And at CMT’s 2022 Artists of the Year broadcast last week, Lynn’s sisters Crystal Gayle and Peggy Sue Wright honored her with her signature song “Coal Miner’s Daughter.