Latest news with #CoalMiner'sDaughter
Epoch Times
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Epoch Times
‘Blue Kentucky Girl': A Loretta Lynn Favorite
Kentucky has long served as inspiration for the musicians who call it home. Its nickname, The Bluegrass State, has also provided an ample amount of wordplay for songwriters. The father of the bluegrass genre, In 1965, country singer Loretta Lynn released her single 'Blue Kentucky Girl,' and it kickstarted a love of creating tunes representing her Bluegrass State roots. In 1970, she debuted what became her signature hit, 'Coal Miner's Daughter.' The autobiographical song was about growing up in the mining town of Van Lear, Kentucky, and being proud of her rural, humble beginnings. (L) Cover of Loretta Lynn's famous 1973 album "Coal Miners Daughter" and a photograph from the back cover of her 1976 album "Somebody Somewhere." Internet Archive. Public Domain Thanks to hits like 'Blue Kentucky Girl' and 'Coal Miner's Daughter,' Lynn's image would become almost synonymous with the homespun aspects of small-town Kentucky culture. 'Blue Kentucky Girl' is just one of many hits available to producers who are developing a Broadway musical honoring Lynn's life and artistic legacy. Named after the singer-songwriter's 1970 No. 1 single and 1980 hit film 'Coal Miner's Daughter,' the musical is currently in production and will feature fresh material as well as plenty of her hit songs. An Example of Virtuous Love During a live performance on a TV show featuring a variety of entertainers, Lynn once remarked that ' Loretta Lynn's childhood home in Butcher Holler, located in Van Lear, Kentucky. Johnnie Laws/Shutterstock 'Blue Kentucky Girl' features Lynn serenading the love of her life, though he's left her to see what the bright 'city lights' have to offer. Lynn's devoted to the 'big old moon' that shines on her rural Kentucky homestead, but she remains faithful to her beloved as she hopes for his return. One verse in particular highlights the virtue found in the values Lynn holds dear in her relationship. She loves her man for who he is, not for the resources he can provide for her. 'Don't wait to bring great riches home to me / I need no diamond rings or fancy pearls / Just bring yourself, you're all I'll ever need / That's good enough for this blue Kentucky Girl' The committed protagonist in the song echoes the same devotion Lynn had to her real-life husband, Oliver ' A Hit Songwriter Keeps His Day Job Though Lynn penned many of her own songs, 'Blue Kentucky Girl' was written by Missouri songwriter Johnny Mullins. Mullins experienced great success writing for country artists. Not only did he get a top 10 country hit with 'Blue Kentucky Girl,' he also penned other popular songs for artists. Those included Lynn's 'Success' and Porter Wagoner's 'Company's Comin'.' Related Stories 6/3/2023 11/17/2022 While Lynn made Mullins's 'Blue Kentucky Girl' a chart contender, years later, country singer Emmylou Harris released her own rendition of the heart-tugging love song. She even garnered a Grammy nomination for it. Details from the front and back of Emmylou Harris's 1979 album "Blue Kentucky Girl." Internet Archive. Public Domain Despite Mullins' success in the country music industry, he remained committed to his day job for 25 years. From 1957 to his retirement in 1982, he was employed as a janitor at a Springfield, Missouri school. During an 'I think definitely it was when he got a letter congratulating him on his Grammy nomination in 1980 for 'Blue Kentucky Girl.' That song has had the most amazing momentum, beginning when Loretta Lynn did the original recording. It has been recorded and performed all over the world. Still to this day, it's a song you just feel, and it connects with so many people.' In 2001, Mullins was inducted into the Missouri Writers Hall of Fame. 'Statement of the American Dream' Sutton Foster, a two-time Tony award winner, is set to play Lynn in the upcoming Broadway production 'Coal Miners Daughter.' The late country artist's daughter, Patsy Lynn, is serving as a consulting producer. Those working on the bio-musical are planning a 2026 Broadway debut. After the announcement of the 'Coal Miner's Daughter' musical, Lynn's family released a What arts and culture topics would you like us to cover? Please email ideas or feedback to
South China Morning Post
11-03-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Meet Loretta Lynn's granddaughter, Emmy Russell – who was ‘so mad' when judges asked her to sing her grandma's song, ‘Coal Miner's Daughter', on American Idol …
Emmy Russell was 'so mad' when she found out the American Idol judges wanted her to sing her famous grandma's song for one of her performances last April. Emmy Russell in a May 2024 post asking her followers to vote for her on American Idol. Photo: @emmyroserussell/Instagram The granddaughter of late American singer-songwriter Loretta Lynn opened up about the gig during an interview on The Thrivalist Podcast with Jamie George. The judges who picked the song for her to sing were Katy Perry , Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie , per People magazine. Advertisement 'So on American Idol, I did my grandma's song. Well, they actually let the judges pick three songs. And the only one I knew was 'Coal Miner's Daughter',' she said on the podcast. 'I'm already facing so much, trying to act in courage, and I just remember seeing that and I was so mad. I was like, 'Ugh.'' She said she thought that singing her late grandma's famous song 'was just going to add to' reports of nepotism. 'It was weird because I still felt that still small voice say, 'I need you to stay, and I need you to show up,'' she added. 'And I got on the piano and I played 'Coal Miner's Daughter' for the vocal coaches … and it was just how I wanted to play it.' The other song choices included 'Here You Come Again' by Dolly Parton and 'Suddenly I See' by KT Tunstall, according to People. Here's what we know about Loretta Lynn's talented granddaughter. How is Emmy Russell related to Loretta Lynn? Emmy Russell shared a photo in memory of her grandmother, country music legend Loretta Lynn, who died in October 2022. Photo: @emmyroserussell/Instagram Emmy Russell is one of Loretta Lynn's whopping 26 grandchildren.
Fox News
24-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Loretta Lynn's granddaughter says ‘American Idol' judges made her ‘so mad' by asking her to do grandma's song
Country legend Loretta Lynn's granddaughter, Emmy Russell, didn't necessarily want to perform her grandmother's iconic song while appearing on "American Idol" last year. During an appearance on "The Thrivalist Podcast," the country singer revealed that while it wasn't her idea to sing "Coal Miner's Daughter" during the competition show, she didn't walk away with any regrets. "Judges picked three songs, and the only one I knew was 'Coal Miner's Daughter,'" Russell said of then-judges Katy Perry, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie. "I just remember seeing that and I was… so mad." Fearful of "nepotism" backlash from viewers, Russell said she had a feeling that the song would only fuel the fire. However, she carried on and pushed forward with the performance. "I just felt that still, small voice saying, 'I need you to stay, and I need you to show up,'" she said. "And I got on the piano and I played 'Coal Miner's Daughter' for the vocal coaches. It was just how I wanted to play it. I had this entire vision for it." Fox News Digital has reached out to "American Idol" for USERS CLICK HERE TO VIEW POST Lynn, who died in 2022 at age 90, had 17 grandchildren and four step-grandchildren. Russell, who made the Top 5 before being eliminated, opened up about her love for music. "I'm a songwriter," the young singer said in a video that was featured on "American Idol." "It's in my blood. When I was about 9, I wrote my first real song." "Whenever you share a song, it's very vulnerable. Anything I feel, I write. It just starts coming out of me. I go to my iPhone and my piano – it is my best friend whenever it comes to music. I feel a melody, I go to my iPhone, record it. A lyric, go to it, record it." At the time of her appearance, Russell was no stranger to the limelight. Lynn would often bring her granddaughter on stage when she still did concerts. During an appearance on Southern Living's "Biscuits & Jam" podcast, Russell said, "Memaw [her name for Lynn] passed down her guitar to me when I was 15 at the Ryman Auditorium. She said, 'You're the one that can do it.' She always thought I had this spark about me ever since I was a little kid. She felt she needed to give me the guitar as the torch in a way." "Lord knows it if I can't hold that. That's too much," she added.
Axios
20-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
Loretta Lynn's life story is becoming a musical
Country legend Loretta Lynn's life story is coming to the stage. What's happening: Producers this week announced a new musical based on Lynn's autobiography "Coal Miner's Daughter" starring Broadway powerhouse Sutton Foster. An array of theater veterans are on board to bring the show to the stage. The big picture: The musical will chronicle Lynn's rise from rural Kentucky to Music City stardom. Her classic songs, such as "Coal Miner's Daughter" and "You Ain't Woman Enough," will be woven into the story. Zoom in: Lynn's daughter and manager Patsy Lynn will serve as a consulting producer alongside longtime adviser, Nancy Russell. Flashback: Lynn died in 2022. She was 90. Zoom out: The news about Lynn's show comes as Dolly Parton heads to Broadway with her own autobiographical musical.
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Sutton Foster to Star as Loretta Lynn in ‘Coal Miner's Daughter' Stage Musical
Broadway favorite Sutton Foster will portray the late country music icon Loretta Lynn in the upcoming stage adaptation of 'Coal Miner's Daughter.' Sam Gold, the Tony-winning 'Fun Home' director, is developing the musical about the life and times of Lynn, who overcame humble beginnings in Kentucky's coal fields to become a pioneering country music star. One of the first women to rise to stardom as a country vocalist, Lynn sold over 45 million records worldwide and won multiple Grammy and Country Music awards. The singer and songwriter of such hits as 'Coal Miner's Daughter,' 'You Ain't Woman Enough' and 'The Pill' was honored in 2013 with a Presidential Medal of Freedom. She died in 2022 at the age of 90. More from Variety Where to Buy Tickets For Broadway's Buzziest Productions: 'Oh, Mary,' 'Stranger Things,' 'English' and More 'Smash' Exclusive First Look: NBC's Cult Favorite Hits Broadway With 'So Many Twists, Turns and Surprises' 'Gypsy' Broadway Review: Audra McDonald Electrifies In George C. Wolfe's Sensational Revival Based on the Oscar-nominated 1980 film and Lynn's best-selling 1976 autobiography (co-authored by George Vecsey) of the same name, the stage show will include songs from Lynn's career as well as stories from her life beyond the movie's ending. Sissy Spacek won the Academy Award for memorably portraying Lynn in 'Coal Miner's Daughter,' which landed six other nods in addition to scoring at the box office. Lynn's manager, producer and daughter Patsy Lynn, as well as her longtime adviser Nancy Russell will act as consulting producers on the stage show. Jeanine Tesori, who worked with Gold on 'Fun Home,' is handling music production. The producing team on 'Coal Miner's Daughter' includes Broadway veterans Kristin Caskey, Mike Isaacson, Bee Carrozzini and ATG Entertainment. Lynn's family called the musical 'one of the last creative projects our mom was so passionate about' and revealed their matriarch had approved of Foster's casting before her death. 'We are so grateful to see that our mother's life story and music will continue to touch the hearts of audiences and remain an important statement of the American dream,' Lynn's family said in a statement. 'As one of the last creative projects our mom was so passionate about, we are thankful that she had the opportunity to experience the initial stages of Sutton's sincere portrayal of Loretta. Mom absolutely fell in love with her and thought she was just the right person to play her onstage. The family is moved by this incredible team's commitment to her legacy.' Foster has been booked and busy on Broadway, starring in revivals of 'Once Upon a Mattress' as Princess Winnifred, 'Sweeney Todd' as Mrs. Lovett and 'The Music Man' as Marian Paroo opposite Hugh Jackman's Harold Hill. A seven-time Tony Award nominee, Foster has taken home best actress wins for 'Anything Goes' and 'Thoroughly Modern Millie.' Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Grammy Predictions, From Beyoncé to Kendrick Lamar: Who Will Win? Who Should Win? What's Coming to Netflix in February 2025
