I was watching the Travel Channel’s ghost-fest the other night, and I learned that Loretta Lynn’s Hurricane Mills plantation is haunted.
That woman can’t catch a break, can she?
For those of you not in the know, she grew up poor in the backwoods of Kentucky (just listen to “Coal Miner’s Daughter”), married at the inconceivably young age of 13 and immediately started having children (4 by the time she was 17). If you’ve ever watched the story of her life, then you also know her husband was a jerk for a lot of their marriage, and I learned on the show I watched that her son died in the creek by her house. No, she might have lots of money now, but I’d never say she had an easy life.
And now her house is haunted. Well, presumably it’s been haunted for some time.
You know, I’ve watched Coal Miner’s Daughter I don’t know how many times. My grandmother was a fan, so I grew up listening to Loretta Lynn. She’s not a bad songwriter. I think what I like about her is that she keeps going, no matter what life throws at her. She’s a very strong woman.
I was watching the Grammys one time when I was a little girl. I suppose it could have been the Academy Awards. I was young — it’s hard to remember for certain. It must have been after Coal Miner’s Daughter came out, but not too much after. I don’t know why Loretta (and don’t you just feel like you can call her that when you don’t even know her?) was there. As a kid, I thought she was getting a special award, but I see no record of it in her biography or at the Grammy website. Perhaps she was just presenting. But I do remember the reaction of the audience, which was almost completely one of admiration. I think there was a standing ovation. Why do I say almost? The camera panned to Madonna, who was looking supremely bored and unimpressed with Loretta’s presence on the stage. I didn’t like Madonna before, but I have always pretty much despised her after that. The look on her face told me a lot about Madonna, and none of it was good.
So I chose a few of my favorite Loretta Lynn tunes for my radio blog:
- “Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man” (a duet with Conway Twitty) is a song I grew up hearing. I can’t remember a time when I didn’t know this song.
- “You’re Looking At Country”
- “You Ain’t Woman Enough” always makes me think of the scene in the movie after she wrote it, and Doo asks where she got the idea for the song. She gives him a withering look and says, “Where you think?” Classic.
- “Story of My Life” is on her newest album, Van Lear Rose, which has received a lot of critical acclaim. I like the pedal steel guitar.
- “One’s On the Way” is pretty much also the story of her life. Did you know that Shel Silverstein wrote it?
- “Miss Being Mrs.” is another cut from Van Lear Rose.
- “Don’t Come Home A-Drinkin’ (With Lovin’ on Your Mind)”
- “Coal Miner’s Daughter” — What set list with Loretta Lynn tunes would be complete without it?
You know who you’ll never see on my radio blog? Madonna.
Visit LorettaLynn.com.
What a delightful post, Dana!
My dad loved Loretta Lynn as well, so I grew up listening to her a lot.
I have always respected her because she has gone through so much and come through it all. She has to be one very strong woman.
And now she has a haunted house as well? Wow. ( I love the Travel Channel's ghost segments as well.)
I'm not too surprised to hear that Madonna reacted like that. She has never impressed me and the fact that she could act so rudely to someone as admired and accomplished as Loretta just speaks volumes for her character – or lack of.
I luv Loretta! I read her first bio. She really has had it tough. I like her song writing too. This is a woman who really says what she thinks. I have also liked Sissy Spacek ever since I saw her portrayal. Divine singing!
I also grew up listening to Loretta Lynn – my grandmother's influence. I suppose there's a coziness in listening to this now. I haven't heard a lot of her more recent songs, but listening to the newer ones you've posted, it still sounds so distinctively "classic" in its way.