Late Country Star Loretta Lynn’s Life Honored in Upcoming Broadway Musical

Loretta Lynn performs onstage at the 13th annual Americana Music Association Honors and Awards Show in Nashville, Tenn., on Sept. 17, 2014. Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Americana Music

A stage adaptation of the life of country music legend Loretta Lynn is in development, with Tony Award-winning actress Sutton Foster set to portray the late singer.

The Broadway production, titled “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” will draw inspiration from Lynn’s 1976 autobiography and an acclaimed biographical film of the same name, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

The musical will feature several of Lynn’s iconic songs, including “I’m a Honky Tonk Girl” and “Coal Miner’s Daughter.” The production will also explore aspects of Lynn’s life beyond the film’s timeline, offering a more comprehensive portrayal of her journey from rural Kentucky to country music stardom.

Lynn’s family expressed their enthusiasm for the production, sharing a statement on social media platform X on Feb. 19. “We are over the moon about this Broadway show portraying mom’s life. Mom was so excited about this project and Sutton playing her on stage. Sharing mom’s story and music in this special way is so very exciting. We can’t wait,” the post reads.

In a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, the family emphasized the significance of the musical in preserving Lynn’s legacy. “As one of the last creative projects our mom was so passionate about, we are thankful that she had the opportunity to experience the initial stages of Sutton’s sincere portrayal of Loretta,” the family added. “Mom absolutely fell in love with her and thought she was just the right person to play her onstage.”

The production brings together an award-winning creative team, with Tony-winning director Sam Gold at the helm and Jeanine Tesori, another Tony recipient, overseeing music production.

Lynn passed away peacefully in her sleep on Oct. 4, 2022, at the age of 90. The family released a statement following her passing, noting that she died “at home at her beloved ranch in Hurricane Mills.”

Loretta Lynn’s Career

Born on April 14, 1932, Loretta Lynn rose to prominence in the 1960s with her distinctive voice and candid songwriting, capturing the struggles and triumphs of working-class women.

Her 1970 hit “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” inspired by her upbringing in a poor Appalachian mining family, became one of her most recognizable songs and later inspired an Academy Award-winning performance by Sissy Spacek in the 1980 film. Lynn was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1988.

Lynn built an enduring career that spanned over six decades. She released 50 studio albums and had 16 No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. She received numerous accolades, including three Grammy Awards, eight Country Music Association Awards, and 14 Academy of Country Music Awards.

In 1972, she made history as the first woman to be named the Country Music Association’s entertainer of the year. She later became the first female recipient of the same award from the Academy of Country Music in 1975.

In 2003, she received the Kennedy Center Honors, recognizing her contributions to American culture. Her 2004 album, “Van Lear Rose,” produced by Jack White, earned her critical acclaim and a Grammy for best country album.

Lynn was also an accomplished author, publishing several books, including “Still Woman Enough,” a sequel to her autobiography, and “You’re Cookin' It Country,” a cookbook reflecting her love for Southern cuisine.

Family played a central role in Lynn’s life. She was married to Oliver “Doolittle” Lynn for nearly 50 years, and together they had six children. Her twin daughters, Peggy and Patsy Lynn, followed in her footsteps, forming the country duo The Lynns.