Loretta Lynn

Anyone watch the Country Music Awards last night?

If you did, you may have seen the marvelous tribute to the wonderful Loretta Lynn.

Growing up listening to country music, Loretta was a staple in my household. Patsy Cline was also a favorite of ours. I have watched Sweet Dreams and Coal Miner's Daughter now

...oh...over 100 times.

"Doo, you can't put the dog gone bedroom in the back of the house?"

I have a crusty old copy of the book (seen above) and I can't quite remember when I read it but her, her story and her music make my heart warm.

What was really fun to see was Sissy Spacek, who played Loretta in Coal Miner's Daughter, honor her in the tribute.

I was fortunate to see Loretta Lynn perform about five years ago at Mystic Lake Casino near the Twin Cities. I was, pretty darn sure, the only person there under the age of 50. I went with my Mom and Dad and felt so blessed to be in the same room as this living legend. I felt that much closer to my other country music hero, Patsy Cline.

She was feisty, funny and still wickedly talented, even at eighty some years old.

Here is a music clip of her singing Coal Miner's Daughter back in the 70s, a time I remember well. All those Conway Twitty and Loretta albums...sigh. Good times.

Oh, and for the record (and here is where I get a little crass) Gwyneth Paltrow can go fly a kite with her attempts at becoming a country "star". (really? A star? I think not)

(if you watched it, you would know that she performed a country song from her new

"country" movie. bleh)

Anyhoo, enjoy Loretta.

red headed book child