Loretta Lynn Still Shines After 50 Years in Business

altIt was truly a family affair Friday night at Osage Million Dollar Elm Event Center, as Loretta Lynn and her children played to a sold out crowd.  

The show opened with an introduction and advertisement of Loretta’s latest box set CD.  She’s been performing for 50 years.  Her first hit was "Honky Tonk Girl" released in 1960.  The name of the box set is Honky Tonk Girl and she autographed 50 copies which they sold for $50 each.

Ernest Lynn (Loretta’s son) opened the night with two songs, one of which was the Toby Keith hit, "As Good As I Once Was."  This quickly gave way to her twin daughters, The Lynn’s  (Peggy and Patsy), Pasty named for Loretta’s dear friend and country legend Pasty Cline.  They played through a short set and had the capacity crowd ready for "The First Lady of Country Music."

Ernest Lynn, The Lynn’s photos

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Photos by: Kevin Pyle

Ever a lady of grace and charm, Loretta came on stage wearing her signature formal attire, a white sequined Cinderella gown.  She is quite a lovely lady and is relaxed and sweet onstage.  Now in her late 70’s, really don’t know for sure as she tends to shy away from her age, she can still belt out her classics as though they were as fresh and new as the tilled soil where so many of her hits were grown.  Sitting in the dirt singing to her "babies." 

Lynn, who is the only female country artist to ever have a movie made of her life, sang through a list of songs that would electrify any jukebox included, "Honky Tonk Girl,"  "Don’t Come Home A Drinkin’ (With Lovin’ on Your Mind),"  "You Ain’t Woman Enough (To Take My Man),"  and show closer "Coal Miner’s Daughter."  Standing through the entire set and even taking requests, only taking a brief break to allow her band to sing through a song.  She is a gem of a person and a great entertainer.

Loretta is a true original, and continues to make Butcher Hollow, or as she says in her soft southern twang, Butcher Holler proud, ever the professional showering her adoration on the audience.  Fans shouting their love for her and her reply of "I love you too, honey."  Couldn’t help but make you smile. 

Loretta Lynn Photos.

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Photos by: Kevin Pyle

The lady is a living legend and graces the stage with her humility and sheer charisma.  This is a show not to be missed and you will be honored to have been present.