In Honor of Loretta Lynn’s 85th Birthday, We’ve Got 8.5 of Her Best Songs That Prove She’s the Baddest Woman in Country Music History

In Honor of Loretta Lynn’s 85th Birthday, We’ve Got 8.5 of Her Best Songs That Prove She’s the Baddest Woman in Country Music History

Few country music artists can claim a career spanning 50-plus years, but golden gal Loretta Lynn sure can. Since releasing her debut album, Loretta Lynn Sings, in 1963, the “Coal Miner’s Daughter” has been hard at work for more than a half-century doing what she loves: making music.

Loretta’s songs about the domestic hardships of women and cheating partners cemented her status as one of country music’s greatest singer/songwriters of all time, paving the way for future forward-thinking, button-pushing females like Patty Loveless, Miranda Lambert, Kacey Musgraves and others.

To commemorate Loretta’s 85th birthday today (April 14), we’re honoring her with 8.5 of her best songs (because we’d need a bigger staff for 85).

1. The first single Loretta ever released, 1960’s “I’m a Honky Tonk Girl,” made it all the way to No. 14 on the country charts. At the time, she was signed to Zero Records out of Vancouver, British Columbia.

2. As much as she sang about her hardscrabble upbringing, Loretta was also unafraid to stick it to interloping women in hilarious, fierce tunes like “You Ain’t Woman Enough (To Take My Man)” and “Fist City.”

3. Loretta’s 1975 “The Pill,” which was written by Lorene Allen, Don McHan and T.D. Bayless, was so controversial for its subject matter of birth control that many radio stations banned it and kept it from hitting No. 1 on the country charts. It went on to become the highest charting pop single of Loretta’s career.

4. In 1967, Loretta landed her first No. 1 song, and one of the most enduring of her career: “Don’t Come Home A-Drinkin’ (With Lovin’ On Your Mind).” It was reportedly inspired by her husband’s struggles with alcoholism.

5. Loretta reached the top of the charts in 1970 with her autobiographical single, “Coal Miner’s Daughter.” The 1980 film of the same name, which was based on Loretta’s autobiography, earned Sissy Spacek an Academy Award for Best Actress.

6. Songs like “Rated X,” which eviscerated the double standard around divorce for men and women, made Loretta a revered figure among feminists.

7. The last Top 10 hit that Loretta enjoyed was in 1982, with the song “I Lie.”

8. Van Lear Rose, Loretta’s Grammy-winning 2004 album, was produced by Jack White of revered rock bands The White Stripes, The Raconteurs and The Dead Weather. The album’s title track recalls her father’s stories about her mother and “how her beauty ran deep down to her soul.”

8.5. Loretta’s professional partnership with Conway Twitty resulted in five No. 1 hits between 1971 and 1975, including the Grammy-winning “After the Fire Is Gone.”


Listen to our “For Loretta Lynn’s 85th Birthday: 8.5 Songs That Prove She is the Baddest Woman in Country Music History” playlist on your preferred music service!
SpotifyApple Music – YouTube

main photo by Russ Harrington / Sony Music Nashville

Michael Ray Talks Creating Memorable Moments Onstage, No. 1 Song “Think a Little Less,” Upcoming New Album and More

Michael Ray Talks Creating Memorable Moments Onstage, No. 1 Song “Think a Little Less,” Upcoming New Album and More

Lisa talks with Michael Ray about the importance of creating memorable moments onstage for his fans, his No. 1 song, “Think a Little Less,” his upcoming new album, what he learned while touring with Darius Rucker, his brief cameo on Nashville, and more.

Show Participants

  • Michael Ray
  • Lisa Konicki, NCD editor in chief

Show Links & Notes

The Writers Room, Ep. 76, 16 minutes
photos by Jason Simanek

Shania Twain Will Mentor Finalists on “The Voice” on April 24

Shania Twain Will Mentor Finalists on “The Voice” on April 24

Shania Twain is bringing her “That Don’t Impress Me Much” talents to Season 8 of The Voice on April 24.

Like Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill in previous seasons, Shania will serve as a mentor to the finalists.

Shania made the announcement on Twitter today (April 13): “Excited to announce that I’ll appear on @nbcthevoice this month, as a mentor to the finalists. Tune in on Monday 24th April at 8pm ET/PT”

Season 8 of The Voice features coaches Blake Shelton, Adam Levine, Alicia Keys and Gwen Stefani. Luke Bryan, John Legend, DJ Khaled and Celine Dion have served as advisors.

The Voice picks back up on April 17 and 18 with Playoff results that will be voted on in real time on Twitter and through The Voice app. Tune in to NBC at 8 p.m. ET for all of the action.

Blake Shelton Reaches Defamation Settlement With “In Touch” Magazine Over “Rehab” Cover

Blake Shelton Reaches Defamation Settlement With “In Touch” Magazine Over “Rehab” Cover

According to TMZ, Blake Shelton has reached a settlement with In Touch magazine over its September 2015 issue that featured a cover story with the headline “Rehab for Blake: He Finally Hits Rock Bottom.” The accompanying article portrayed Blake as an alcoholic with several of the singer’s alleged drunken antics.

Blake denied the incidents occurred and filed a defamation lawsuit against In Touch and its parent company Bauer Publishing Co.

During a filing Thursday (April 13) in a Los Angeles federal court, lawyers for Blake and In Touch asked the judge to dismiss the defamation lawsuit filed by Blake. The filing did not include any details of a settlement.

A source told TMZ that “In Touch shelled out an undisclosed amount of money to make the suit go away.”

Adam Craig Takes You Behind the Scenes of His New Video for “Just a Phase”

Adam Craig Takes You Behind the Scenes of His New Video for “Just a Phase”

Adam Craig, one of country’s hottest new voices, released his current single, “Just a Phase”—featured on his self-titled EP—in February. Now the sultry voiced newcomer is releasing his first major label video, and he’s taking you behind the scenes to check it out.

“This is my first music video on a major label, and it really has been like a dream come true,” Adam tells Nash Country Daily. “Before you move to Nashville, you dream about making a music video and singing in front of large audiences and hearing yourself on the radio—there’s so much that goes into it all. It takes a village.”

Directed by the Edde Brothers, Matt and John, the video explores a minimalist vibe. It shows Adam performing in the middle of Nashville’s Schermerhorn Symphony, playing his guitar as the song narrates the story.

Cause I’m a Friday nighter / And you’re a Sunday afternoon / I’m a reckless rock and roller / You’re a nice slow dance to a midnight tune / Deep in you’re heart I know you know I ain’t right for you / I’m just a phase you’re going through,” Adam sings in the chorus.

NCD talked with Adam about the making of “Just a Phase.”

What is the concept of the video for “Just a Phase”?

“The video for ‘Just a Phase’ takes you on the journey of this guy who is a musician and is out on tour. He has been on a date or two with this girl that he’s really hit it off with and now she’s come out on the road to see him. He really likes her but he also knows that he is ‘just a phase’ to her. But he really wants it to last and is essentially holding on for dear life, hoping that it will last longer than he knows it inevitably will.”

What is your role in the video?

“I’m the narrator and am telling the story that you see play out on screen. We filmed my performance at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center in the middle of downtown Nashville and it’s just beautiful—the lighting, the vibe—everything was just so neat. It set the mood just perfectly.”

You also starred in the lyric video for “Just a Phase.” What was the difference for you between making the official music video and the lyric video?

“My part in this and my part in the lyric video were very similar. My part in this official music video was basically to just sing the song over and over until I didn’t look goofy doing it. I was very lucky to have the lyric video as kind of a dry run to figure it out a little.”

We all go through phases in our lives. What were some childhood phases you went through?

“Motorcross. Football. Baseball. I thought I was going to play major league baseball right out of T-ball. There was a phase where I kept getting in trouble because I saw a Def Leppard video on MTV. I took a pair of scissors and shredded every pair of jeans I owned. There was a pretty good spanking session after that. That was a bad phase. I was also way into the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles—the old ninja turtles back when they were real and they used to kick butt.”

Check out the behind the scenes video for “Just a Phase.”

Check out the final version of “Just a Phase,” right here.

CMA Fest Announces Forever Country Stage, Featuring Tracy Lawrence, Darryl Worley, Mark Chesnutt, Lonestar and Many More

CMA Fest Announces Forever Country Stage, Featuring Tracy Lawrence, Darryl Worley, Mark Chesnutt, Lonestar and Many More

If you’re one of those country fans that have been longing for a return of ’80s, ’90s and ’00’s country music, you’re in luck. The CMA has announced a brand new stage at CMA Music Festival, on June 8 -11 in Nashville, called the Budweiser Forever Country Park Stage.

Located in the park behind Ascend Amphitheater, the stage will hosts artists such as The Bellamy Brothers, Mark Chesnutt, Tracy Lawrence, Darryl Worley, Daryle Singletary, Little Texas, Mark Wills, Confederate Railroad, Lonestar, Lari White, Ty Herndon, Andy Griggs, Trick Pony, Jamie O’Neal, Shenandoah, Restless Heart, Emerson Drive, John Berry, Collin Raye and many more.

Forever Country Park Stage is free and open to the public. So hold on to your hats and check out this super ’80s, ’90s and ’00s full-lineup.

We’ll see you there, but you’ll have to get in line behind us.

Thursday, June 8

  • 11:00am – 11:30pm – Emerson Drive
  • 11:45am – 12:15pm – Confederate Railroad
  • 12:30pm – 1:45pm – Tracy Lawrence (also performing at Nissan Stadium Sunday, June 11 at 8pm)
  • 2:00pm – 2:30pm – Daryle Singletary
  • 2:45pm – 3:15pm – Mark Wills
  • 3:30pm-4:00pm – The Bellamy Brothers
  • 4:15pm – 4:45pm – Lonestar

Friday, June 9

  • 11:00am – 11:30am – Lari White
  • 11:45am – 12:15pm – Trick Pony
  • 12:30pm – 1:00pm – Ty Herndon
  • 1:15pm – 1:45pm – Darryl Worley
  • 2:00pm – 2:30pm – James Otto
  • 2:45pm – 3:15pm – Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers
  • 3:30pm – 4:00pm – Danielle Peck
  • 4:15pm – 4:45pm – Ray Scott

Saturday, June 10

  • 11:00am – 11:30am – George Ducas
  • 11:45am – 12:15pm – John Berry
  • 12:30pm – 1:00pm – Andy Griggs
  • 1:15pm – 1:45pm – Doug Supernaw
  • 2:00pm – 2:30pm – Rick Monroe
  • 2:45pm – 3:15pm – Mila Mason
  • 3:30pm – 4:00pm – Terry McBride
  • 4:15pm – 4:45pm – Mark Chesnutt

Sunday, June 11

  • 11:00am – 11:30am – Restless Heart
  • 11:45am – 12:15pm – Julie Roberts
  • 12:30pm – 1:00pm – Exile
  • 1:15pm – 1:45pm – Jeff Bates
  • 2:00pm – 2:30pm – Shenandoah
  • 2:45pm – 3:15pm – Jamie O’Neal
  • 3:30pm – 4:00pm – Little Texas
  • 4:15pm – 4:45pm – Collin Raye

Tracy Lawrence photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images for The Country Music Hall Of Fame & Museum; Darryl Worley photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images for IEBA; Mark Chesnutt photo by Suzi Pratt/FilmMagic

Loretta Lynn Announces New Studio Album, “Wouldn’t It Be Great,” Set for Aug. 18 Release

Loretta Lynn Announces New Studio Album, “Wouldn’t It Be Great,” Set for Aug. 18 Release

Loretta Lynn will turn 85 years old on Friday, April 14, and she’s celebrating with two sold-out shows at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium on April 14 and 15. But the celebration is starting today (April 13) as Loretta announced she will be releasing a new album, Wouldn’t It Be Great, on Aug. 18.

All of the tunes on the new 10-song offering were penned or co-penned by Loretta. Like the album’s predecessor, the Grammy-nominated Full Circle (March 2016), Wouldn’t It Be Great was mainly recorded at the Cash Cabin Studio in Hendersonville, Tenn., with producers Patsy Lynn Russell and John Carter Cash. The album features new songs “Ruby’s Stool,” “Ain’t No Time to Go” and “I’m Dying for Someone to Live For” alongside newly recorded renditions of past compositions such as “God Makes No Mistakes,” “Coal Miner’s Daughter” and “Don’t Come Home A’ Drinkin’ (With Lovin’ on Your Mind).”

“I think you try to do better with every record you put out,” Loretta said in a press release. “It’s just everyday living—and everybody wants to know, ‘Well, what is it about your songs that people like?’ I think you’ve got to tell your stories. I just think it hits everybody, you know, the songs.”

Loretta will revisit the Ryman Auditorium on August 25 and 26. Tickets go on sale April 21.

Wouldn’t It Be Great Track List and Songwriters
“Wouldn’t It Be Great” (Loretta Lynn)
“Ruby’s Stool” (Loretta Lynn, Shawn Camp)
“I’m Dying for Someone to Live For” (Loretta Lynn, Shawn Camp)
“Another Bridge to Burn” (Loretta Lynn, Lola Jean Dillon)
“Ain’t No Time to Go” (Loretta Lynn, Patsy Lynn Russell)
“God Makes No Mistakes” (Loretta Lynn)
“These Ole Blues” (Loretta Lynn, Patsy Lynn Russell)
“My Angel Mother” (Loretta Lynn)
“Don’t Come Home A’ Drinkin'” (Loretta Lynn, Peggy Sue Wells)
“The Big Man” (Loretta Lynn, Shawn Camp)
“Lulie Vars” (Traditional, arrangement by Loretta Lynn)
“Darkest Day” (Loretta Lynn)
“Coal Miner’s Daughter” (Loretta Lynn)

 

 

Zac Brown Band’s Jimmy De Martini Welcomes Fourth Child, First Daughter

Zac Brown Band’s Jimmy De Martini Welcomes Fourth Child, First Daughter

Congratulations are in order for Zac Brown Band’s violin player, Jimmy De Martini and his wife Stacey, who welcomed a bouncing baby girl to their family earlier this month.

Jonelle De Martini was born on April 4, weighing in at 6lbs 5 oz and is the first girl for the couple. The new baby will join big brothers James, Joseph and Jackson, who will be in charge of looking out for their little sister.

Zac Brown Band posted a photo of Jimmy’s three boys and new daughter on Instagram, along with a congratulatory note.

“Big congratulations to Stacey and Jimmy De Martini who welcomed their fourth child and first daughter Jonelle on April 4, weighing in at 6 lbs 5oz. Jonelle joins big brothers James (9), Joseph (6) and Jackson (almost 2),” they said in the caption.

Congratulations to the happy couple and their growing family.

Carrie Underwood’s Fingers and Toes Are Ready for Playoff Hockey

Carrie Underwood’s Fingers and Toes Are Ready for Playoff Hockey

Carrie Underwood is ready for playoff hockey.

Carrie posted a pic on Instagram of her freshly painted fingernails and toenails that match the team colors—navy blue and gold—of the Nashville Predators. Carrie’s husband, Mike Fisher, will lead the Preds against the Chicago Blackhawks tonight (April 14) in the first round of the NHL playoffs.

Carrie captioned the post with: “Got that #PredsPride baby, from my fingers to my toes! @predsnhl #GoPreds #GoFish #SpiritFingers #BlueAndGold #Sparkles #StanleyCupPlayoffs Nails by @the_jen_of_all_trades”

Check out Carrie’s little piggies below . . . and go Preds!

Jessie James Decker Named as Brand Ambassador for South Beach Diet [Photo Gallery]

Jessie James Decker Named as Brand Ambassador for South Beach Diet [Photo Gallery]

Jessie James Decker can now add “Brand Ambassador” to her flourishing résumé.

The singer/songwriter/TV personality/entrepreneur has been named the brand ambassador for South Beach Diet, a division of Nutrisystem.

The mother-of-two will appear in a 360-degree marketing campaign for the company, including TV, online, digital and social media.

“I have been following the principles of the South Beach Diet for quite some time,” said Jessie James in a press release. “My days often consist of juggling work while running around after my kids, and sometimes I forget that I need to focus on myself. With the South Beach Diet, I can easily grab a meal, a bar or a shake, and be confident that I am eating healthy, even on the go.”

South Beach Diet boasts a menu of more than 70 frozen and pantry-ready meals and snacks.

photos courtesy South Beach Diet

Weather

  • Forecast
  • Currents
  • Planner