NewsChannel 5.com - Nashville, Tennessee - Country's First Lady, Loretta Lynn, Looks Back On Her Career

Country's First Lady, Loretta Lynn, Looks Back On Her Career

HURRICANE MILLS, Tenn. - She's known as the first lady of country music, and she's never lost her charm through the years.

NewsChannel5's Amy Rao spent the day in the Hurricane Mills with the Coal Miner's Daughter, Loretta Lynn. 

There isn't enough space on the wall to document the storied life of the coal miner's daughter turned country music legend.

"Me and Doo when I had the twins, can you believe that," Lynn pointed at a picture.

"There's me and Conway," Lynn showed a few more pictures. "This is Sissy Spacek, get a good look at that. I don't know what she's dressed up for, not Halloween."

Nearly 50 years after her struggle to make a name in the country music world, Lynn said she is still recording, still writing and still performing.

"We're selling out everywhere we go, I can't believe it," Lynn said.

The journey to stardom is one she keeps close at heart, and says it still shapes her music today.

"I remember being hungry with my kids. I remember things being so slim at times," Lynn recalled.

After leaving her home in Bucher Holler, Ky., Lynn said it was her husband Mooney Lynn who pushed her to sing.

"It was my woman is better than Kitty Wells, my woman is better than this and that, and I said honey you'll never get nowhere doing that, but he did."

And now years after his death, Lynn said it is still her husband that motivates her to continue working.

"He's not here, and I feel better if I am working. I don't think as much, because if I just sit down and start thinking it's not good so that is what keeps me going."

Lynn attributes her longevity in country music to her writing.

"I think they connect with these songs," Lynn said.

Lynn's taken somewhat of an untraditional path. At times writing about what others in country music wouldn't touch, like her number one hit about birth control-the pill.

"Oh everyone was hollering about it, but they all went out and bought the record and it still did great for me."

Lynn hasn't stayed completely within her genre either. She's recorded with country greats like Conway Twitty as well as upcoming rock stars like Jack White.

"We've been in studio at least 10 times in the last couple months," Lynn said.

Even now, the coal miner's daughter is making new music with Merle Haggard and Elvis Costello.

"Elvis is a heck of a writer. He's a great kid."

Lynn continues to tour much of the year and is still a hit at the Grand Ole Opry.

"I'm still nervous when I sing at the Grand Opry. I don't believe any member doesn't get nervous, if they say that they are telling a story."

A winner of countless awards and honors, Lynn said the night she became the first woman to win CMA's Entertainer of the Year as well as her induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1988 were among the most special.

"I was sitting by Minnie Pearl and she said you better get ready you are going to win this next award, and I said what for and she said you gonna get it. I said no I won't. About that time Jonny Cash said and the winner is Loretta Lynn. "

Sixteen number ones later, thousands of concerts behind her and the designation of the first lady of country music, one might think Loretta Lynn is ready to enjoy her success and relax.

"I'm still recording, working hard, I love my life, that is it," Lynn said.

Lynn said she will keep singing to the end and hopes one day people will look back and still see her roots never strayed far from those early days in Bucher Holler.

"Maybe my writing, something like that, I don't know what they'll remember. Well at least she was doing what she thinks is right, she's country and she knows it and I'm not afraid of it, not ashamed of it."

Loretta Lynn has had more than 50 top ten hits and 16 number ones in her career.