THE COUNTRY SINGER:
THE STORY OF
LORETTA LYNN
BY
JEFF BIGGERS
Smashwords Edition
Copyright
2011
William Gladden Foundation
ISBN #1-56456-309-X
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE:
Entertainer Of The Year
CHAPTER TWO:
Appalachia
CHAPTER THREE
Depression Days
CHAPTER FOUR:
Pregnant
CHAPTER FIVE:
The Guitar
CHAPTER SIX:
Grand Ol’ Opry
CHAPTER SEVEN:
Country Music Star
VOCABULARY
REVIEW QUESTIONS
CHAPTER ONE:
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Nashville had never seen such a huge and important show. The crowd filled the largest hall in town. Gathered for the Country Music Association Awards, which gave out the top prizes and honors for country musicians and singers, disc jockeys, journalists, music promoters, record producers, singers and musicians, and thousands of fans from all around the country packed the hall.
Loretta Lynn tried to relax on the side. She had already won two awards, top Vocal Duo of the Year, which she shared with Conway Twitty, and top Female Vocalist of the Year. Now, she was in line for the biggest award in country music, Entertainer of the Year for 1972.
No one knew what to expect. Only men had won the top award in past years. Given to the country music entertainer with the best records, tours and show performances, the award was the highest honor in the business.
Country music had reached a new popularity in the United States. For many years, people had just thought of it as a regional music for a small group of listeners. Springing from the mountain songs of Appalachia, mixed with the new tunes and rhythms of the South, country music had grown to include all types of singers and musicians. Still using traditional instruments like fiddles, banjos, string basses and guitars, the music had taken on a modern edge, and now it had become a big business, in both record and touring sales.
Dressed in a long green gown, Loretta could barely hear the announcer over the loud noise. The crowd was buzzing with excitement and anticipation. She was just happy for the nomination, the first woman ever to receive such an honor. Looking back, she realized that the entire year had been a great success. Selling over a million albums, she had become the first female singer in country music to score a gold album. She had even appeared in some movies.
The crowd quieted slowly. The program was being shown on TV. There in Nashville, Tennessee, Loretta looked out into the audience. The country singer had come a long way. Although her native home in the hills of Kentucky was not far away, she had made a great journey to reach this stage in Nashville. With the hit of her album, A Coal Miner’s Daughter,” which Loretta had written herself, she had become known throughout the United States. Singing about the troubles and joys of her life, Loretta had told her story. Like the songs that fluttered through the rugged hills of her past, she, too, had risen from a difficult childhood.
Everyone waited as the two famous stars standing on the stage with the envelope holding the winner’s name prepared to announce the winner. Standing alone, surrounding by the cameras and microphones, Loretta Lynn waited like the rest, and then she heard her name announced.