Doolittle is real close to the twins, Patsy and Peggy. This was taken when they were around five years old. It makes them mad if I make a mistake over which is which. But Doolittle can always tell them apart, because he’s taken care of them while I was working on the road.
When I visited the Red Cloud Indian School in Pine Ridge, South Dakota, I was all ready to take about a dozen of those children home with me. I’m proud of being part Cherokee, and I think it’s time all us Indians felt the same way.
The only thing missing in this picture from Hurricane Mills is a couple of fans tiptoeing up the front lawn. Usually, there’s some stranger asking for an autograph or taking pictures. Now that we opened the dude ranch down the road, we’ve had to post a security man, because the crowds got so big.
We’re just a couple of the Webb girls, trying to get ahead in Nashville. My sister Crystal Gayle has had a couple of hit records and is gonna have more. I’ve been wearing more of these denim and sequin outfits lately—it’s the “new me.”
This is how Doolittle looks 364 days a year—whether he’s backstage at the Opry, out on the ranch, or traveling with me. Somebody once looked inside Doolittle’s hat and saw the words: “Like hell it’s yours.” He’s very protective of what he thinks belongs to him.
My husband never was big on writing letters. When I was on the road promoting “Honky Tonk Girl,” Doo stayed back in Custer with the kids. He sent this to me at Momma’s. He didn’t know how else to get it to me.
Doo could be a real sweetheart when he wanted to be. He gave me this love note on our anniversary. When he died in 1996, I didn’t know if I could go on. But I did.
I treasure this handmade card Doo made for me one Valentine’s Day. He didn’t much remember anniversaries and birthdays and such early on, but he got the hang of it.
Conway and me were best friends and partners. He was real shy, which made him so fun to tease. He’d get me back by teasing me about my crush on Gregory Peck. He and David Skepner gave me this framed picture of Mr. Peck in 1971. A few years later I got to meet the man himself!
Tour buses weren’t around when I got into the music business. We all packed into one car like a bunch of sardines. When I got my first tour bus, I was so happy! We put about a billion miles on that thing. I’m as comfortable sleeping in the back of my bus as I am just about anywhere on God’s green earth.
I never was much of an office person. This was me messing around in 1968. I have my desk set up in my “writing room”—the laundry room at our house.
Being out on the road, I’d dream about getting home to my kitchen that Doo renovated in the house at Hurricane Mills. Crisco made me their spokesperson in 1979 and we filmed a lot of the Crisco commer-cials right there in that kitchen over the next decade.
Those who serve our country in the military are some of the finest folks in the world. I try to perform for them whenever I can. This picture was taken in 1976. I was real proud that they gave me this American flag.
We had too much fun at my birthday party in April 2019. They called it the All-Star Birthday Celebration Concert in Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. At the end, all the performers and me sang “Coal Miner’s Daughter” together. There’s no way we could have got all those people in one photo, so this will have to do. This shows me with my son Ernest, Tanya Tucker, Martina McBride, and my sister Crystal Gayle. Behind us you can see just a little bit of Darius Rucker, Alan Jackson, and Dennis Quaid. My wish came true that night when Keith Urban popped out of a huge birthday cake and sang “Happy Birthday” to me. I loved it so much that I asked them to bring me that cake. Now I have it in my museum in Hurricane Mills. Photo credit: © George Walker IV / USA TODAY NETWORK
This is me and Doo in Branson, Missouri. At first we were happy. Then things got tough and he got so sick.
Me and Conway were a great team. I loved him so much. I still miss him every day.
The Honky Tonk Angels: me, Dolly Parton, and Tammy Wynette. Our album was released in 1993 and we sang “Silver Threads and Golden Needles” at the Country Music Awards that year.
Tim Cobb designed so many of my gorgeous gowns over the years. He made this one for me to wear on the Van Lear Rose album cover. I liked it so much I had him make me a pink version too. This picture was taken at the old house in East Nashville where we recorded that whole album. Photo credit: Russ Harrington
I wore the pink dress for the “Portland, Oregon” music video with Jack White. We filmed in an old honky tonk in Memphis, Tennessee. Photo credit: Russ Harrington
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Also by Loretta Lynn
Me & Patsy Kickin’ Up Dust: My Friendship with Patsy Cline
Honky Tonk Girl: My Life in Lyrics
You’re Cookin’ It Country: My Favorite Recipes and Memories
Still Woman Enough: A Memoir
Coal Miner’s Daughter
Reading Group Guide
Discussion Questions
Loretta says being poor helped her become the person she is, and that she wouldn’t go back and change how she was raised. How do you think it prepared her? Do you think your upbringing prepared you for the life you have now? Is there anything you wish your parents had done differently?
Loretta gives Doolittle credit for her career. Why do you think his support was so essential? Do you have anyone in your life that similarly helps and encourages you? How do you think your life would be different without them?
Doolittle told Loretta that “you make your own luck.” How is that true in their lives? Do you find it to be true in your own?
Loretta claims that country music is popular with ordinary people because it covers real-life issues. Do you agree with her assessment? Are there any other genres of music that do this?
Patsy Cline and Loretta seem to have gotten close quickly and, although the friendship was short, it has clearly had a lasting impact on Loretta. Why do you think that was the case? If you’ve had similarly influential friendships, how have they impacted you?
When Loretta started writing songs, she wanted to make sure they were from a woman’s point of view. Why do you think that was important to her? What effect do you think that had on the country music industry?
Loretta says she wouldn’t let Nashville change her values. How do you think she managed to stay grounded while her star rose, despite the somewhat corrupting influence of the music industry?
Loretta would’ve traded all her fame and fortune to live a regular life. Do you think her tradeoffs were worth it? Would you ever want to be famous?
Several new chapters are included in this edition. Does it seem like Loretta’s perspective on her life and career have changed? Are there moments from your youth that you look back upon differently now?
Loretta writes about living through some important losses in this book. What do you think kept her going? What has kept you strong through trying times?
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