Loretta Lynn Comes Home to Washington State

I'd be lying if I said I'm a big fan of country music, but I've always liked the movie called "Coal Miner's Daughter." That's the story of Loretta Lynn's life. I wanted to see Loretta perform at the Snoqualmie Casino last year, but she had to cancel her tour due to a knee injury. I was very pleased when my daughter gave two tickets to Loretta's concert at the Emerald Queen Casino on October 26 to me as a birthday gift.

Born on April 14, 1934, the First Lady of Country Music is now 78 years old. But she looks much younger. She is still touring the country with her twin daughters, Patsy and Peggy Lynn. Loretta's show opened with the twins singing some of their favorite country songs, including "Tulsa Time."

Loretta performed all of her greatest hits. Everything from "I'm a Honky Tonk Girl" to "Your Squaw is on the Warpath" to "Don't Come Home a Drinkin with Lovin on Your Mind."

Between songs, Loretta reminded the audience that Washington State is the place where her music career began. She was born and raised in Butcher Hollow, Kentucky, but she and her husband, Doolittle Lynn, moved to Washington shortly after they were married. The Lynns lived in Custer, Washington for 14 years. Loretta announced that she received her first recording contract (for "I'm a Honky Tonk Girl) from Zero Records of Vancouver, Washington in 1959. That's why she tries to come home to Washington every year.

I like Loretta Lynn, but I think some of her songs are dated. In "Fist City" and "You Ain't Woman Enough," Loretta addresses women who had affairs with her husband. I felt that she was blaming women for her husband's bad behavior rather than him. To me, the idea of two women fighting over a man who is two-timing them seems rather juvenile. I can't imagine why any woman -- especially a celebrity -- would want to be married to a cheating dog. Good husbands don't stray. Young women should know that they don't have to put up with men who do. Hopefully, a more modern country singer will address cheating with songs with titles like, "Out the Door You Go, You No Good Louse."

For the show's finale, Loretta performed a moving rendition of her song, "Coal Miner's Daughter." I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this song because everyone should be proud of their roots.