I have very eclectic music taste. I grew up in the seventies and eighties. So disco and that horrific pop music of the eighties, (which I won't publicly admit is on my iPod) mark my musical upbringing. But my dad was a huge country music fan. We knew from a very young age that you don't talk during a Johnny Cash song.
So I was familiar with Loretta Lynn early on. It must have been on cable or an early video tape release when I first saw the movie. I remember being young enough that I wasn't completely sure what happened in the motel room with newlyweds, Loretta and Doo.
But it remains one of those movies that I still quote and sing along with. I love that they show this couple warts and all. Then I wonder what the real couple was like. Both were still alive and very involved with the making, so there had to be some editing of their story. Since seeing this movie, I have wanted to see Loretta Lynn in concert.
Finally, Saturday night I did.
We got tickets and went to the casino show. It started with her daughters, Peggy and Patsy, singing. They are the babies that Loretta has after Patsy Cline is killed in a plane crash.
My husband was able to guess their second song by the drum lead in. He is such a music nerd.
Not the greatest pictures, but better than the ones of Loretta.
She was so sparkly that she made photo taking almost impossible. Now I understand why they said we could take all the pictures we want! None of them were going to turn out. The other distraction was the guy a couple of rows up whose butt crack was directly in my line of sight.
I must ask. How does anyone not notice their butt hanging out?
Her bus was outside, but different from the one in the movie. Looked pretty snazzy.
Loretta was great. She was funny and sang pretty good. Her dress had to weigh at least forty pounds and she did take a break in the middle of the concert. (She is in her eighties! She can take a break.) But unlike every other concert, she just pulled up a chair onstage and watched her band sing a couple.
She also had tissues stuffed in the sleeve of her dress. It made me laugh, cause every grandma I've ever met does that. I have in the last year had to stop myself from doing this, so I guess it is inevitable.
Loretta didn't have a set list. She asked the audience what they wanted to hear. Of course the whole place screamed for "Coal Miner's Daughter". But Loretta is one smart cookie.
"I don't like that one" She quipped.
I know from having gone to a few concerts over the years, they save their signature song for last. Loretta didn't disappoint. She sang her classics and some gospel music and then those distinctive notes started and the audience was on their feet.
I did get a halfway decent picture of her leaving the concert and heading for her bus. Then I bought an autographed copy of her cookbook. It was a great night.
I had a revelation that night. Everyone makes a big deal about all of Taylor Swift's post break up songs. But Loretta made a pretty good career of writing a song every time her husband ticked her off. She is a true legend.
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