The good old days.
Of course, the late, great Loretta Lynn was a Country Music Hall of Famer, Grammy winner, and winner of just about every music award imaginable. She released dozens of hit songs, and some of the most important albums in country music history, however, perhaps her largest impact on the country music world was from her willingness to push the boundaries of songwriting and storytelling in country music.
Loretta made an entire career out of saying what no one else would in terms of what it’s really like to be a woman and the real life issues that come with it. She had plenty of songs banned from mainstream country radio back in the day because of that, including some of her most recognizable songs, like “The Pill” and “Rated X”.
Who knew that people want to hear real, honest songs that speak to their lives and experiences? Clearly, it was something Loretta understood better than just about anybody, and thankfully, she was never afraid to express that regardless of what any manager, radio station, or label had to say to the contrary.
In 1972, she became the first woman to be nominated and win Entertainer of the Year at the CMA awards, and a few years later in 1976, she became the first female to win Entertainer of the Year at the ACM Awards, as well. During 11th Academy of Country Music Awards at the Hollywood Palladium, Los Angeles, California, she was up against Glen Campbell, Roy Clark, John Denver and Mickey Gilley. Loretta was rightfully the most awarded artist that night, also taking home Top Female Vocalist of the Year and Top Vocal Group of the Year with Conway Twitty.
On the heels of putting out her 26th solo studio album Home and going on a successful tour, Loretta seemed shocked to hear her name called, and she ran onstage, clearly very excited and surprised, as she stumbled through her words some, trying to find the right thing to say:
“Thank you, thank you very much. I’d like to say this for the second time, I have won the Entertainer of the Year, what I said on the first award… on my first award, I didn’t know what I was nominated on, I really didn’t know. So when I got the award, that’s why I said I wish I had things together because I didn’t know I was nominated. But I’d like to say, but I sure am proud. I want to thank all of you. I love all of you very much, thank you.”
While usually when artists say something like that these days, you can pretty much bet that it’s not true, or at the very least, they had a good idea if they would win, but Loretta is so genuine and seemed truly grateful and excited to win. Since Loretta first won it almost 50 years ago, Dolly Parton, Barbara Mandrell, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Miranda Lambert, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, Lainey Wilson and The Dixie Chicks have all taken home the coveted Entertainer of the Year trophy.
The fact that Loretta was the first female to win the EOTY for both of country music’s most prestigious (well, they were at the time, at least) award shows, is extremely well-deserved, and it goes without saying she’s one of, if not the greatest, artists to ever do it.
You can, and should, watch her acceptance speech below. For all she accomplished throughout her decades-long career, Mrs. Lynn remained the ever-humble Coal Miner’s Daughter, and earned every bit of her unprecedented, legendary success:
The ACM’s will return to Texas this year with Reba McEntire returning as host, and it will all stream live exclusively on Prime Video from the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco this Thursday, May 8th at 8 PM ET.
The ACM Awards with the show will also be celebrating their 60th anniversary, with a pretty good group of performers lined up.
