Kacey Musgraves absolutely nailed her tribute to the late, great Loretta Lynn.
She performed Loretta’s signature song “Coal Miner’s Daughter” during the in-memoriam portion of the Grammy Awards show tonight, in what was an absolutely perfect performance of a country standard.
The song was a solo write by Loretta, and was by far the most significant of her career, leading to her aforementioned 4th career #1, 2nd Gold album certification, and a famous biographical musical film of her life that won an Academy Award and two Golden Globes.
Of course, the song perfectly describes her life growing up dirt poor in Butcher Holler, Kentucky, with a father who grew corn and worked in the Van Lear coal mines:
“My daddy worked all night in the Van Lear coal minesAll day long in the field a hoin’ cornMommy rocked the babies at nightAnd read the Bible by the coal oil lightAnd ever’ thing would start all over come break of morn’”
She mentions in the chorus, though, how proud she was of her parents and her upbringing in the hills and hollers of east Kentucky, which was extremely evident throughout her entire life and career.
Kacey took the stage playing Loretta’s iconic epiphone frontier and delivered a flawless acoustic performance, and I have to say, it’s so damn good to hear Kacey singing stone cold country again.
Her vocals were impeccable, and it was easily one of my favorite performances of the night… and I also really appreciate her nod to Loretta with her whole outfit and look for the evening, as well.
She certainly did Mrs. Loretta proud, that’s for sure:
“Coal Miner’s Daughter”