That’ll get the waterworks flowing…
Alan Jackson shared a phone call between himself and the late, great Loretta Lynn, who passed away this morning at her home in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee, and it’s probably the sweetest tribute I’ve seen so far.
Loretta is one of the greatest country artists to ever do it, and stories, photos and videos with the music icon have been pouring in from artists and friends all day.
The common theme among all of them, though, is what an incredible and loving woman Loretta really was, and I think that always came through so effortlessly in her music. She was as real as they come.
Alan posted this video on TikTok of a conversation they had over the phone, and from the looks of it, I’d guess it couldn’t be more than a few years old at the most.
Here’s how it goes:
Loretta: “I love you so much.”
Alan: “I love you too, you’re the sweetest thing. You’re such a legend in this business.”
Loretta: “I ain’t either, honey, now.”
Alan: “Yes you are, you mean a lot to a lot of people.”
Loretta: “I told my girlfriend, I told her, I said you was my boyfriend but you didn’t know it.”
Alan: “I’m glad to be.”
I mean, if that doesn’t just melt your heart, I don’t know what will…
Alan shared the video along with the caption:
“Sweet Loretta Lynn, there will never be another Honky Tonk girl like you. I’m gonna miss you. – AJ”
You might wanna grab a few tissues before you hit play, it’s just beyond precious the love these two legends had for each other:
@officialalanjacksonSweet Loretta Lynn, there will never be another Honky Tonk girl like you. I’m gonna miss you. – AJ♬ original sound – Alan Jackson
Loretta was a huge fan of Alan’s, and vice versa, and she had high praise for his 2021 album Where Have You Gone, saying:
“Just when I thought country music was near gone, Alan Jackson brings it back to life! What an album, he’s given us.
Y’all go listen to it right now. Alan, thank you honey for keeping it country!”
And she previously honored him with a speech when he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, not long after she had a stroke in 2017.
She recalled the first time meeting him many years ago when he was first starting out in the business, saying:
“You know, the first time I ever met Alan, and seen Alan, he looked like a scared little boy.
He was practicing backstage going through his songs, and I remember, I looked at him and I said, ‘You’re gonna be one of the greatest singers in country music.’
He hadn’t let me down.”
If the queen of country music herself said it, then it must be so…
RIP Mrs. Loretta, there will never be another like you.