Johnson County native Loretta Lynn dies at 90

By Lilly Adkins

BSN Associate Editor

NASHVILLE, TENN. — Loretta Lynn, 90, the Kentucky coal miner’s daughter from Johnson County and undisputed queen of Country music, died at her home in Hurricane Mills, Tenn., on Tuesday. She was 90.

Lynn’s family provided a statement following her death.

“Our precious mom, Loretta Lynn, passed away peacefully this morning, Oct. 4, in her sleep at home in her beloved ranch in Hurricane Mills,” the family said in the statement, also asking for privacy as they grieve and saying a memorial will be announced later.

Lynn was born Loretta Webb in Butcher Hollow in Johnson County. On Jan. 10, 1948, at the age of 15, she married Oliver Vanetta “Doolittle” Lynn, and the couple had six children.

Throughout her career, Lynn wrote more than 160 songs and released 60 albums. She had 10 No.1 albums and 16 No. 1 singles on the country charts. Lynn won three Grammy Awards, seven American Music Awards, eight Broadcast Music Incorporated awards, 13 Academy of Country Music, eight Country Music Association and 26 fan-voted Music City News Awards. She is the most awarded woman in country music and was the first woman in country music to receive a certified gold album, for 1967’s “Don’t Come Home a Drinkin’ (With Lovin’ on Your Mind).”

In 1972, she was the first woman named Entertainer of the Year by the Country Music Association. There were a number of other awards throughout her career.

Lynn’s career spanned six decades in country music.

Funeral arrangements were pending at press time Tuesday.