Loretta Lynn 's Story Freaked Me Out As a Teenager

Rest in Peace, Loretta Lynn

Famed country singer, Loretta Lynn, died yesterday at 90 years old. I was a fan, not so much for her music, but for her story. Lest you wonder why I am writing about a singer on a book marketing substack, I must mention that Loretta Lynn wrote at least nine books that I could identify. One of those books, a memoir, was titled “Coal Miners Daughter” and was made into a movie with the same title. Actress Sissy Spacek won an Oscar for her portrayal of Loretta Lynn in the movie.

The Reason Why Coal Miner’s Daughter Freaked Me Out As A Teenager

The movie Coal Miner’s Daughter pulls no punches as to the relationship between Loretta Lynn and her husband of 50 years in the end, whom everyone called “Doo.” They married when Loretta was 15 and the movie, as I am sure her memoir reflects, portrays their wedding night. Loretta was a not a 15 year old of today, you see, and knowledgeable about the ways of the wedding night festivities she was not.

As a pretty naive teenager myself, the scene horrified me. It looked to me a bit like rape and I suppose that was the point. I ran off and to ask my Mom questions about the incident and sweet woman that she was (she used to call me “Curious George”) she calmed me down and explained the loving, tender and fun side of the “act” when it is under the right circumstances. She used to call it “a present for married people (remember this was the ‘80’s) for putting up with the hardship that is marriage at times.” She also explained that I probably should rethink watching an R rated movie.

Finally, A Word On Loretta Lynn’s Story - She Didn’t Give Up

What I did love about the movie was Ms Lynn’s story. She had a talent. Doo saw it. She could have lived a quiet life raising her children… she had six, four before she became famous. (I guess they figured out that sex thing) She had this talent for singing and song writing and she friggin went for it. Loretta and Doo recorded a song, mailed it to stations and then traveled from radio station to radio station, in person, to encourage them to play her song. They did not give up and it paid off!

There is also a sweet moment in the film where Loretta and Doo are traveling by car from station to station and you witness a tender moment between them as partners in this new venture. I bet they looked back on that moment, outside of all the success that would come to her later, and felt that they were at their happiest back then, when they were striving for success.

Don’t you feel that way sometimes as a writer, that the working toward the success makes you feel so alive and hopeful? Share your thoughts and thanks for reading.

Why Subscribe to Get Your Book Seen and Sold Substack?

With paid subscriptions, some less than $5/a month, you will have access to all of my resource filled posts, plus a fill-in-the-blank marketing plan that you can download.

At the highest subscription level ($100/yr), you will also get a 30-minute consult with me.

When you are ready to make some decisions about YOUR book subscribe today and let’s come up with a plan.