George Strait honored the late Loretta Lynn on Sunday evening (Oct. 30) during Lynn’s public memorial service, Coal Miner’s Daughter: A Celebration Of The Life & Music of Loretta Lynn.
The country music icon paid tribute to Lynn, who he called “one helluva songwriter and entertainer,” with a performance of her first chart-topping hit, “Don’t Come Home A-Drinkin’ (With Lovin’ On Your Mind).”
Surrounded by beautiful images of Lynn and yellow floral arrangements, Strait strummed his acoustic guitar as he belted out the lyrics to the Lynn hit.
“No, don’t come home a drinkin’ with lovin’ on your mind / Just stay out there on the town and see what you can find / ‘Cause if you want that kind of love, well, you don’t need none of mine / So don’t come home a drinkin’ with lovin’ on your mind,“ Strait sang on the chorus.
“I love her and miss her dearly,” Strait said prior to honoring Lynn.
After hearing the news of Lynn’s passing, Strait took to social media to remember the late Country Music Hall of Famer.
“We’re sure going to miss @lorettalynnofficial. What an amazing woman and so unbelievably talented. Very thankful she shared that with all of us fans. God bless all of the family. Rest in Peace Loretta. See you down the road.”
“Don’t Come Home A-Drinkin’ (With Lovin’ On Your Mind)” was released by Lynn in 1966. The song, written by Lynn with her sister, Peggy Sue Wright, went on to become Lynn’s first chart-topping country hit in 1967.
Coal Miner’s Daughter: A Celebration Of The Life & Music of Loretta Lynn featured performances from Alan Jackson, Brandi Carlile, Darius Rucker, George Strait, The Highwomen’s Carlile, Amanda Shires + Natalie Hemby with Brittany Spencer, Jack White, Keith Urban, Little Big Town, Margo Price, Emmy Russell + Lukas Nelson, Tanya Tucker and Wynonna with Gaither Vocal Band + Larry Strickland.
The public memorial service was co-hosted by Jenna Bush Hager and also featured heartfelt messages from Barbara Mandrell, Darius Rucker, Faith Hill, Hoda Kotb, Martina McBride, Sheryl Crow, and Tim McGraw. Additionally, Dolly Parton, Kacey Musgraves, Marty Stuart, Miranda Lambert, Reba, Sissy Spacek, and Taylor Swift shared sweet video tributes.
In loving memory of the life and legacy of Loretta Lynn, The Loretta Lynn Foundation exists to establish, preserve, and promote public awareness of the historical and cultural contributions of Loretta Lynn and the cultural contributions of country music as a genre and to establish, preserve, and maintain an educational and recreational facility for the general public through which to give to and serve others. For more information and to make a donation, visit foundation.lorettalynn.com or text LORETTA to 53-555.
Coal Miner’s Daughter: A Celebration Of The Life & Music of Loretta Lynn aired live and commercial-free on CMT and SiriusXM’s Willie’s Roadhouse: Willie Nelson’s Classic Country (Channel 59).
Loretta Lynn passed away on Tuesday, October 4 at the age of 90. She was later laid to rest on her ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee on Friday, October 7. Lynn was laid to rest next to her late husband, Oliver Vanetta “Doolittle,” during a private ceremony.
Over the course of her iconic 60-year career, Lynn earned a staggering 51 Top 10 hits and 16 No.1 hits to her name, including “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” “Fist City” and “Don’t Come Home A’ Drinkin’ (With Lovin’ on Your Mind).” She has also sold over 45 million albums worldwide.
Lynn has also garnered every accolade available in music from GRAMMY awards to induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame. She has won four GRAMMY awards, seven American Music Awards and eight Country Music Association awards. She was the first woman to ever win the Country Music Association and Academy of Country Music Awards for Entertainer of the Year.
She was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1988, the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2008, and was awarded the Kennedy Center Honors in 2003 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2013.
