In the wake of the news that country music legend Loretta Lynn passed away at the age of 90, Dolly Parton has paid homage to the “wonderful talent”.
“So sorry to hear about my sister, friend Loretta,” said the singer.
“We’ve been like sisters all the years we’ve been in Nashville and she was a wonderful human being.”
Jack White, Billy Ray Cyrus, Carrie Underwood, and Carole King are among the other artists who have paid homage to Loretta Lynn, who was best known for the song “Coal Miner’s Daughter.”
White, who collaborated with Loretta Lynn on an album and released it in 2004, referred to her as a “mother figure” and hailed her as “the greatest female singer-songwriter of the 20th century”.
“She was such an incredible presence and such a brilliant genius in ways that I think only people who got to work with her might know about,” White said in an Instagram video.
“What she did for feminism, women’s rights in a time period, in a genre of music that was the hardest to do it in, is just outstanding and will live on for a long time.
“She broke down a lot of barriers for people that came after her.”
According to a statement released by her family, the country music artist passed away on Tuesday at her home in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee.
At a period in the history of country music when female singers’ voices were often silenced, she rose to fame with songs that spoke out about the challenges faced by women.
“I sure appreciate her paving the rough and rocky road for all us girl singers,” said country star Reba McEntire on Instagram.
“She blazed so many trails for all of us girls in country music,” agreed Miranda Lambert.
“It’s safe to say I wouldn’t even be making country music today if it weren’t for Loretta Lynn,” added Margo Price. “Her writing was as real as the day was long.”
In a long post on her Instagram account, Carrie Underwood told the story of her first meeting with Lynn, which took place at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville.
“I was chatting in the corner with another artist and someone walked behind me and smacked me on the rear end!” she recalled.
“I turned around and there she was, in a big sparkly dress, laughing as she continued to walk down the hall at what she had just done.
“This is one of my most favourite stories to tell. I think it sums up her personality pretty well. She was a cantankerous little pistol… friendly and sweet… never afraid to be herself and speak her mind.”
Underwood added: “She is irreplaceable. She will be incredibly missed… but her legacy lives on in those of us whom she has influenced.”
Lynn was referred to as a “inspiration” by Carole King, while k.d. Lang referred to her as “joyous, fierce, one of a kind”.
When Loretta Lynn consented to sing a duet with Billy Ray Cyrus and George Jones on the song “Country Music Has the Blues,” Billy Ray Cyrus referred to the experience as “one of my highest honours.” Lynn’s half-sister tweeted: “The world lost a legend. We lost a sister. Love you, Loretta.”
