Faith Hill Fights Back Tears at Stage during Tribute to Loretta Lynn Recalls Their First Meeting

Country music sensation Loretta Lynn passed on October 4, 2022, at her home in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee. A statement by her family stated that she died peacefully at age 90.

Lynn had a long career spanning six decades and was one the most inspirational woman in country music. Her life story on its own is a chilling account of the kind of resilience the singer embodied.

Lynn was born in 1932 in Butcher Hollow, Kentucky, and was the second child of eight. Her father worked as a coal miner, and her mother was a housewife.

Life was not necessarily easy for the singer; she lived in a cabin with her family of ten and went on to marry Oliver “Doolittle” Lynn in 1948 at only 15 years old.

According to the Taste of Country, Lynn and her husband moved to Washington state after a year of marriage. By this time, the country star was already pregnant with the first of her six children.

Loretta Lynn photographed in 1976. | Source: Getty images

Her husband gifted her a guitar in 1953, which unlocked a new world for Lynn. The singer started playing gigs locally with a band called Loretta, and the Trailblazers stated, Taste of Country.

In 1960 the country star released her first song, “I’m a Honky Tonk Girl,” which gave her family the opportunity to move to Nashville to grow her singing career.

This was the beginning of many gold albums and a record-breaking musician that collected many awards and inspired more women to sing country music.

Loretta Lynn performing in Austin Texas in 2016. | Source: Getty Images

Lynn was reportedly the most-awarded female country singer. She was added to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1983, followed by the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1988, and the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2008.

To top it off, Lynn broke the record and was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama. This was the White House’s highest honor to a private citizen.

Faith Hill’s Emotional Tribute to Loretta Lynn

Her friends and family did not only feel the death of Lynn, but her music was an inspiration to many famous country singers today.

Country music sensations Tim McGraw and Faith Hill were asked to say a few words during CMT’s Coal Miner’s Daughter: A Celebration of the Life & Music of Loretta Lynn at the Grand Ole Opry.

This was a public memorial and a celebration of the incredible life of Lynn. According to The Boot, Hill started tearing up before she began her tribute.

Hill recalled beginning her friendship with Lynn and said it started backstage at the Opry House Studio, where Lynn hosted her nightly talk show. She expressed how grateful she was to have been in the presence of such an iconic singer when she was still an upcoming artist.

McGraw also gave a short tribute and reminisced on how influential Lynn’s music was to his childhood and shared some of the personal moments he had with the singer.

His wife described how Lynn’s powerful contribution to music represented and gave women a voice in country music and society. Hill said as she held back her tears:

“Loretta was unabashedly honest about hardships and joys of being a wife and mother, a woman loving life — loving, lying, cheating, having babies, not having babies…she sang about it all.”

Hill continued to try to deliver her message without crying. She praised Lynn for always being her authentic self and proud of her background and the life she created from limited resources.

For a woman as proud and vocal as Lynn to enter the music space and make women feel seen and appreciated for who they are, was one of the many reasons Hill was grateful to have had musicians like Lynn beside her. The singer expressed that Lynn did not only push boundaries but “she shredded them.”

Tim called her a trailblazer, and he and his wife thanked Lynn for paving the way for them and making them proud to be country artists.

Lynn’s death will be felt by many, but her music and legacy will continue to live and inspire the upcoming generation to push boundaries and create inclusive spaces for everyone.

Celebrities Pay Tribute to Country Star, Loretta Lynn

Lynn touched many people’s hearts, and many celebrities were shocked and affected by the singer’s passing. One of the singers that expressed his sadness was Black Shelton. He wrote: “Terrible news about Loretta Lynn passing away. Prayers to her family.”

Reba McEntire also shared a tribute on Facebook and expressed how Lynn reminded her of her mother. She went on to thank her for pushing boundaries so that she could have a successful country music career.

Carrie Underwood also posted a sweet message for the singer. She wrote about her first encounter with Lynn and how it inspired her as an artist. Underwood expressed that some of the special moments of her career were singing for and with Lynn.

CMT collaborated with Lynn’s family to deliver a spectacular celebration of the trailblazer’s life. The Grand Ole Opry was filled with country stars and fans enjoying beautiful performances dedicated to Lynn.

CMT reported that the celebration was hosted by the Today Show’s host and close friend of Lynns, Jenna Bush Hager. The performances reportedly had the crowd in tears.

One of the special ones was by country icons Wynonna Judd and Larry Strickland, who delivered a rendition of a famous song from Lynn’s Christian album “How Great Thou Art.”

Alan Jackson also had the crowd whipping with his emotional tribute. He sang one of his songs, “Where Her Heart Has Always Been,” which he wrote for his mother, and said Lynn always reminded him of her.

Country music has truly lost a legend, but Lynn’s presence and music will not be forgotten. We wish her family strength as they process this painful loss.