If there’s an example of someone who came from nothing to become a household name and a huge success in her career, it’s certainly country singer Loretta Lynn. The country music legend died earlier today, October 4, 2022, at her home surrounded by family. She was 90 years old.
Lynn’s family shared the sad news on the singer’s Facebook page. They wrote the following statement: “Our precious mom, Loretta Lynn, passed away peacefully this morning, October 4th, in her sleep at home at her beloved ranch in Hurricane Mills.” The family requests privacy while they are grieving, and they will announce a memorial service at a later time.
Lynn’s father was a cool miner, and they didn’t have a lot growing up. She got married in 1948 when she was just 15 years old. Her husband, Oliver “Doolittle” Lynn, was 9 years older than she was. He was a moonshine runner, and they had 4 children together before Lynn celebrated her 20th birthday. They remained married until “Doo”‘s death in 1996.
Lynn’s husband helped get her music career started with a gift. He bought her a guitar for $17. She started writing songs and performing at honkytonks. She released her first single, “I’m a Honky Tonk Girl,” in 1960. After that, she had multiple top 10 hits including “Don’t Come Home A’ Drinkin’ (With Lovin’ on Your Mind)” and “You Ain’t Woman Enough (To Take My Man).”
She wrote about her own personal experiences. In 2010, she told PEOPLE, “Every song I wrote came from my heart.”
Lynn’s first big health battle was in 2017 when she had a stroke. She managed to recover, and her family felt hopeful. Then in 2018, she fell and broke her hip. She was at home at the time, and she may have been chasing her new puppy.
Lynn’s career included great honors such as becoming the Country Music Association’s first Female Entertainer of the Year in 1972 and receiving the Kennedy Center Honor in 2003.
She had a total of six children. Her oldest, Jack, drowned in 1984. She leaves behind her other children and other family members including multiple grandchildren.
Here is Loretta Lynn singing her hit Coal Miner’s Daughter:
Rest in Peace.
