Loretta Lynn Covers Patsy Cline Ahead Of New Book
A brand new book from Loretta Lynn is on the way called Me & Patsy Kickin’ Up Dust, and ahead of the new memoir Loretta has released a new rendition of her covering Patsy Cline’s iconic “I Fall to Pieces” (listen below). Though you have a few options for books covering the life of Loretta Lynn, this one focuses specifically on the friendship between Loretta and Patsy. It was co-written with Loretta’s daughter (and Patsy Cline namesake), Patsy Lynn Russell.
When Loretta Lynn moved to Nashville with a $17 guitar looking to become a star, Patsy Cline was already an established performer. But instead of Patsy seeing Loretta as a potential competitor or replacement, Patsy took the Coal Miner’s Daughter under her wing, and they soon became close friends, touring partners, and confidants, helping each other through the struggles of fame and familial problems.
“I Fall to Pieces” has specific importance to the friendship of the two. In 1961, Cline was almost killed in a car wreck. While in the hospital, Lynn appeared on the Midnight Jamboree radio show after The Grand Ole Opry, and dedicated a performance of the song to Patsy in the hospital. Upon hearing it, Cline told her husband to arrange for the singers to meet, and this is when the two became friends.
Patsy Cline died in 1963 at the age of 30 in the same plane crash that also took the lives of Hankshaw Hawkins and Cowboy Copas, while Loretta would go on to launch a Hall of Fame career, and is still recording and releasing music today at the age of 87.
Loretta Lynn’s version of “I Fall to Pieces” was recorded at the Cash Cabin Studio in Hendersonville, Tennessee with the help of Patsy Lynn Russell and John Carter Cash, similar to her last two records, Full Circle (2016) and Wouldn’t It Be Great (2018). Along with new songs, Loretta has been re-recording some of her most iconic songs, as well as covers from past greats.
Me & Patsy Kickin’ Up Dust will be released on April 7th from Grand Central Publishing, with Dolly Parton penning the Forward. It is now available for pre-order.
Melissa W
April 6, 2020 @ 10:37 am
I per-ordered this book over the weekend. Looking forward to the read!
Terry
April 6, 2020 @ 10:38 am
I am in the middle of reading Loretta’s book Still Woman Enough which tries to recap her life from post Coal Miner’s Daughter movie time. The woman was a saint to stay married to Doo. She touches on her time with Patsy (including saying when Patsy had her husband sneak in beer to the hospital, it never happened-done for the movie) and it will be interesting to learn more about their friendship.
It should be a great read, as Loretta writes like she is talking right to you- she tells it like it is, which is refreshing! God bless her!
Chris
April 6, 2020 @ 2:23 pm
I forgot that they were friends until the Comcast Classic Country Music channel posted it as background for a Loretta song I was listening
Can’t wait to read this and support Loretta.
DJ
April 6, 2020 @ 2:28 pm
I’ve been a Loretta fan since the first time I heard her on an album with Ernest Tubb in 1966- still am.
Kevin Smith
April 6, 2020 @ 2:42 pm
Those albums with Tubb she did are gems. I spin em. They have aged well IMO.
elaine myers
April 6, 2020 @ 8:16 pm
I think she sang this song ok. Her voice is definitely different than Patsy’s. Loretta is more higher with a Twang sound.Patsys voice was so incredibly powerful beautiful she had a very smooth voice i love her voice better than Loretta. If Patsy’ had lived she would of been the Queen of Country.
Erik
April 7, 2020 @ 6:33 am
If this was recorded recently, it is mighty impressive. Coming back from the stroke that rendered her unable to walk and talk properly and singing again is a great feat indeed.
Luckyoldsun
April 8, 2020 @ 2:03 pm
That recording is one of those things that’s worth hearing once, simply because it’s Loretta Lynn covering Patsy Cline.