Coal Miner's Daughter

My dad was from Big Stone Gap, in southwest Virginia.  He wasn't directly involved with the coal industry, but his parents and grandparents were.  I was born in Virginia, but grew up in Columbus, GA.  After my parents retired, they moved back to the old homeplace in Big Stone Gap. On one of our family trips to visit them, we went over to Carter Fold.  Carter Fold is named for June Carter Cash's family and was a popular spot for the locals to go listen to music on Saturday nights.  June was not around when we visited, but some of her people were.  That was the closest I have ever been to bluegrass and mountain music.  

Loretta Lynn died this week.  She was from Kentucky and grew up in that same era.  She was 15 years old when she married and started a family with 6 children to follow.  I can imagine that her life wasn't too easy.  Her husband recognized her talent, and she began her career writing and making music and became known as one of the most highly respected "mothers of country music".  She was known for her bold truths about how women have been mistreated and how they deserved to be treated.  She was fine with people believing she was unsophisticated, but underneath, she had a story to tell, and didn't let anyone stop her.   One of the best stories I read about Loretta was when she was invited to sing at the White House.   She was one on one with Pat Nixon, and wanted to make it known that she wasn't happy that someone had been imprisoned unjustly during the Vietnam War.  She mentioned to Pat that she had wanted to write a letter to Richard.  Of course, no one referred to the president by his first name, especially at the White House.  Loretta chalked it up to her upbringing as a coal miner's daughter, and stated that she hadn't spent a lot of time in "places of power".  When a reporter asked her why she had called the president, Richard, she replied, "they called Jesus, Jesus, didn't they?"  This story makes me want to know her more.

I read the Nixon story in this article.  Check it out for more on Loretta.  I found this short video connecting Lorretta to the Carters.