Country Music Icon & Pioneer, Loretta Lynn, Dead At 90

Loretta Lynn country music
Russ Harrington

The country music community lost a legend today.

Kentucky native, country music icon, and pioneer of the genre, the great Loretta Lynn has passed away at age 90.

Her family has confirmed that Loretta Lynn died today, October 4th, at home in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee.

“Our precious mom, Loretta Lynn, passed away peacefully this morning, October 4th, in her sleep at home in her beloved ranch in Hurricane Mills.”

Born in Butcher Hollow, Kentucky, in 1932, Loretta’s country music career spanned more than 60 years and featured hits such as “You Ain’t Woman Enough (To Take My Man)”, “Don’t Come Home A-Drinkin’ (With Lovin’ on Your Mind)”, “One’s on the Way”, “Fist City” and “Coal Miner’s Daughter”.

The Country Music Hall of Famer boasts a whopping 51 Top 10 hits, she’s won multiple Grammy Awards, and she was the first woman to win the Country Music Association and Academy of Country Music awards for Entertainer of the Year.

She was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1988, the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2008, and was awarded the Kennedy Center Honors in 2003 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2013. She sold over 45 million albums worldwide.

The 1980 film Coal Miner’s Daughter was made about her life.

Lynn was pre-deceased by her husband of 48 years Oliver Vanetta “Doolittle” Lynn, her daughter Betty Sue Lynn and son Jack Benny Lynn.

She is survived by her daughters Patsy Lynn Russell, Peggy Lynn, Clara (Cissie) Marie Lynn and her son Ernest Ray Lynn as well as grandchildren Lori Lynn Smith, Ethan Lyell, Elizabeth Braun, Tayla Lynn, Jack Lynn, Ernest Ray Lynn Jr., Katherine Condya, Alexandria Lynn, Jasyntha Connelly, Megan Horkins, Anthony Brutto, Jason Lynn, Wesley Lynn, Levi Lynn, Emmy Rose Russell, David Russell, Lucca Marchetti and step grandchildren David Greer, Jennafer Russell, Melody Russell and Natalie Rapp, and her great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers the family asks for donations to be made to the Loretta Lynn Foundation.

The family has asked for privacy during this time, as they grieve. An announcement regarding a memorial will be forthcoming in a public announcement.

RIP to the great Loretta Lynn, a true pioneer and icon of country music.

“You Ain’t Woman Enough (To Take My Man)”

“Coal Miner’s Daughter”

“Don’t Come Home A-Drinkin'”

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