CMAs Honor Coal Miner's Daughter



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"Well, I was born a coal miner's daughter,
In a cabin, on a hill in Butcher Holler,
We were poor, but we had love,
That's the one thing my daddy made sure of,
He shoveled coal to make a poor man's dollar."

-Loretta Lynn
"Coal Miner's Daughter" (1970)

"In 1980 I had the honor of playing Loretta Lynn in "Coal Miner's Daughter," Sissy Spacek said in front of a thunderously applauding crowd at Wednesday night's 44th annual Country Music Awards, "But let's face it, Loretta didn't need any actress to turn her into a great character, she was born one."

Celebrating her fiftieth anniversary in the music industry this year, Lynn has been busy as ever.  She continues to tour across the country to sold-out arenas, was recently commended at an all-star Grammy Salute at Ryman Auditorium, and also held a special event at her ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee.  Her 1976 autobiography "Coal Miner's Daughter" has been re released with a special forward in it by Lynn who reflects upon her many years in the business and an audio version of the book also became available this month with Academy Award winner Spacek serving as narrator.  On November 9th a tribute album was released in accolade to the seventy-six-year-old living legend with some of Loretta's songs being performed by artists such as Reba, The White Stripes, Gretchen Wilson and many more.  Lynn, Sheryl Crow, and Miranda Lambert teamed up to cut the title track "Coal Miner's Daughter" and later made a music video to go along with it.

The latest of this long string of festivities occurred at Wednesday night's CMAs.  Spacek was introduced and spoke kind words about the singer and touched upon some of her amazing achievements. "Loretta Lynn defines down home excellence and that's why in 1972 she was the first woman ever named Entertainer of the Year by the CMAs," she proudly expressed before introducing Lambert and Crow to do their rendition of Lynn's signature song.  With photos and video clips of Loretta playing behind her, Lambert began the first couple stanzas before being joined by Crow.  However, it was during the last chorus that undoubtedly one of the best moments of the evening took place.  Lynn emerged from the wing in a sparkling gold princess dress to sing and was greeted by an instant standing ovation.  Never leaving their feet from the time she stepped on stage, the audience at the sold-out Bridgestone Arena gave the Queen of Country Music a well-deserved cheer at the end of the song.

By this point it was time for Sissy and Loretta to announce the winner of the 2010 Female Vocalist of the Year which fittingly went to Miranda Lambert.  After hugging fiance Blake Shelton, Lambert ran up the stairs and straight into the arms of the lady she was just paying tribute to.  "The woman that paved the way for all females ever in country music is standing here beside me and handing me this award. And I'm proud that I can now call her a friend," Lambert stated, the emotion apparent in her voice. "Thank you so much.  Thank you for everything you've done," she said to Lynn whom Lambert hadn't let leave her side, "Thank you, Reba. I'm going to keep going for all the other women in this industry, I promise."

Minutes after Lynn's performance her Facebook page was already filling up with compliments and Twitter was bombarded with comments. Before long the name 'Loretta Lynn' was the fifth most tweeted about topic on the popular site.  With this wonderful lady's charm and talent it's no wonder than Lynn has held strong after fifty years as she's as relatable to today as she was back in 1960 when she first came onto the scene with her single "Honky Tonk Girl." No one is going to stop her from doing anything she sets her mind to.  As a song she wrote on her album "Blue Kentucky Girl" says:

"I've been up to the top of a heartbreak mountain

I've been down in the valley of the blues

 I've been down the road of loneliness and back again

I've been down in the dust of broken mem'ries

And I've been up on the clouds of happiness...

And I've got farther to go than I've been

Yes, I've got farther to go than I've been."

Farther to go than where she's been? We can't even imagine.