Loretta Lynn Is Back Working After Health Issues

Photo: Brad Coolidge

After a long hiatus from the public spotlight, Loretta Lynn is back working, and putting preparations together to release her latest album, Wouldn’t It Be Great. The country music legend suffered a mild stroke on May 5th, 2017, which required her to cancel her upcoming performances, and delay the release of the album originally scheduled for August 2017.

While in recovery, Loretta Lynn began making public appearances, including October 1st, 2017 at the Tennessee Motorcycle and Music Revival that took place on Loretta’s Hurricane Mills ranch in Tennessee, as well as at at the Country Music Hall of Fame induction ceremony for Alan Jackson on October 22nd.

But then on January 8th, 2018, Loretta suffered another health setback after falling and fracturing her hip. Loretta canceled her only tour date in 2018, which was at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and has not made any public appearances or scheduled any performances since.

But on Wednesday (7/11), Loretta Lynn emerged on Facebook framed in a camera viewfinder. “At the Ranch yesterday filming for a music video for my new album called ‘Wouldn’t It Be Great.’ We’ll have more updates for you all soon! Love, Loretta Lynn.”

Wouldn’t It Be Great features 13 songs, all of which were written or co-written by Loretta herself. Just like her first Legacy Recordings release, 2016’s Full Circle, the album is a mix of new songs, and re-recordings of some of her most legendary cuts. Wouldn’t It Be Great includes the new songs “Ruby’s Stool,” “Ain’t No Time To Go,” and “I’m Dying For Someone To Live For.” Classic remakes include “Don’t Come Home A’ Drinkin’ (With Lovin’ On Your Mind)” and “Coal Miner’s Daughter.” Loretta wanted to delay the release until she was well enough to help promote it.

The album was recorded primarily at the Cash Cabin Studios in Hendersonville, TN, with producer (and Lynn’s daughter) Patsy Lynn Russell, and caretaker of the Cash Cabin Studios, John Carter Cash. Loretta is said to have recorded upwards of 90 songs at the Cash Cabin over the last few years in preparation of regular releases from Sony Legacy. Loretta Lynn’s previous album Full Circle from 2016 received a Grammy nomination, and her 2004 record Van Lear Rose with producer Jack White was a Grammy winner.

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