Happy Birthday, Miss Loretta!
A tribute to Loretta Lynn on her 84th birthday!
Somebody once told me that "There's only two types of people in the world: the kind who like Loretta Lynn, and the kind who don't." Now that's true, obviously, but I'd take that statement one step further: Here in Kentucky, one of the fundamental rules is that you have to like Miss Loretta.
Born April 14, 1932 in Butcher Hollow, Loretta was the daughter of coal miner Ted Webb and his wife Clara. Life wasn't easy in 1930s Eastern Kentucky; Loretta once said "You get used to sadness, growing up in the mountains, I guess." But, Loretta was a survivor. Like many girls of her generation, she got married young -- she was only 14 when she married Oliver "Dolittle" Lynn. Loretta later joked of her youthful naïveté, "I didn't know how babies were made until I was pregnant with my fourth child."
Like a lot of mountain folks, Loretta and Doo had to leave home to find work, settling in a logging community in Washington State. in 1953, Doolittle bought Loretta a $17 Harmony guitar as an anniversary present. She taught herself to play, and by 1960, she'd cut her first record.
Miss Loretta's musical career has spanned decades, and she's received every imaginable musical accolade. Her enduring popularity, however, is as much for her amazing personality as her musical talent. She's a strong woman, a trailblazing musician, and an outspoken voice for common sense morality. She's always advocated for women's rights, recording controversial songs about divorce and birth control, while championing traditional values. When Miss Loretta says "The country is making a big mistake not teaching kids to cook and raise a garden and build fires," we Kentuckians hear the wisdom of our own grandmothers.
Loretta Lynn is a source of pride and strength for generations of Kentucky women. We are all a little better for the teachings of the Coal Miner's Daughter from Johnson County.
From all of us here at HerKentucky, Happy Birthday, Miss Loretta!
How You Can Help Johnson County!
Eastern Kentucky area impacted by severe flooding.
Earlier this week, Johnson County was impacted by severe flooding.
We're talking houses and cars being washed away. Two people are confirmed dead; several more are still missing. And countless folks have lost everything. The stories from back home are simply heartbreaking.
For those of y'all who aren't quite sure where Johnson County is, it's in the heart of eastern Kentucky. It's where Loretta Lynn and Crystal Gayle spent their formative years. Richard Thomas (John Boy from the Waltons) has roots there. For basketball fans, you may recognize the names of hometown favorites John Pelphrey, J.R. Vanhoose, and Todd Tackett. And, on a personal note, it's home to a whole lot of my family and friends.
Van Lear, Miss Loretta's hometown, is in Johnson County!
It's going to take a long time to rebuild. This is an area where people aren't always food secure; it's hard to describe the ways that a catastrophe impacts an area that is already economically fragile. Just trust me when I say that it's going to be really hard.
Here are some ways you can help:
The quickest and easiest is to visit Kentucky Brewed Tees before 3:30 EDT today to order this t-shirt. 100% of their proceeds will go to benefit recovery efforts. They've already raised over $1200! (The owners of KBT are based in Johnson County, and I can personally vouch for the fact that your funds will be handled responsibly!)
If you're local to Eastern Kentucky, stop by the Paintsville or Pikeville Food City and donate non-perishable food items, cleaning supplies, or toiletries. If you're in Floyd County, you can also stop by Parkview Pharmacy in Minnie to drop off supplies.
The needs are immediate. Right now, Johnson County natives are looking for the most basic items. There will be a time when clothing and permanent shelter are needed, but these are the items that are currently needed. Johnson Central High School is serving as an immediate crisis center.
If you'd like to donate funds, you can contact the Johnson County Long-Term Recovery Group, which was formed a few years ago to address regrowth following the 2012 tornados that struck the same area. JCLTRG has an online donation page, and is conducting a radio donation drive on Paintsville's WSIP (98.9 FM) station this Saturday.
If you know someone who is impacted by the flooding:
Obviously, immediate shelter and provisions are the most important thing. However, we have seen some gracious offers of help (this will be updated as we hear more offers!)
- Duracell is bringing its Rapid Responder charging station to Johnson County. Follow them on Twitter for information about free batteries and mobile charging stations.
- If your photographs were damaged by floodwaters, Paula Goble Photography has offered to help restore them free of charge.
HerKentucky sends warm thoughts and deepest hopes for safety, peace, and resillance for our friends and family in Johnson County!