Clara Marie, Daughter Of Country Music Legend Loretta Lynn, Undergoes ‘Critical Surgery’

The family of late country icon Loretta Lynn is asking fans to send prayers for Lynn’s daughter Clara Marie, also known as Cissie, who will be undergoing a “critical surgery” amid her ongoing battle with a reoccurring cancer.

Clara “Cissie” Marie Lynn

“Your prayers for Cissie and her family would mean so much to us,” the post read on Lynn’s official Instagram account, alongside an old photo of the mother and daughter smiling from ear to ear in each other’s presence. 

Cissie was welcomed into the world on April 7, 1952 as the third child of Lynn and her late husband, Oliver “Doolittle” Lynn.

How Many Children Did Loretta Lynn Have?

The couple welcomed six children in total – Betty Sue, who passed away in 2013, Jack Benny, who died in 1984, Clara Marie, Ernest Ray, and twins Peggy Jean and Patsy Eileen.  

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A post shared by Loretta Lynn (@lorettalynnofficial)

Throughout her life, Cissie delivered the same passion for music as her mother, and older sister Betty Sue. She followed close behind in their footsteps and embarked on her own music career, which included the release of two albums that were produced by Lynn before she died in October of 2022. 

Ernest Ray Recently Underwent Surgery

The news of Cissie’s “critical surgery” comes just a few weeks after the Lynn family shared that the country icon’s son, 69-year-old son Ernest Ray underwent surgery as a result of kidney failure. Lynn’s family began asking for prayers and support in mid-January as they continued to receive difficult news regarding Ray’s health. While the Lynn family tends to remain private about personal matters, Ray’s wife, Crystal Lynn, explained that Ray gave his blessing for them to post updates of his health. 

Crystal was very open and honest with the ups and downs their family experienced over the last few weeks. One day prior to the surgery, she revealed that Ray’s most recent surgery marked his third operation since last fall. 

“It is a life-saving and life-sustaining operation, so we desperately need it to work this time so that they don’t have to take more drastic measures,” she wrote at the time.  

Luckily, her latest update that came via Facebook was more hopeful. On Monday (Jan. 29), Crystal informed her followers that after several procedures and many prayers, Ray was sent “home to heal.” 

“I have no explanation for it other than GOD….One day we can’t get a successful dialyzation…(3 weeks total) The next day we can,” she wrote, expressing the true wave of emotions this journey has been. “One day we’re facing more serious circumstances….The next day we’re not….One day we’re not certain what the future holds…The next, we have confidence that the future is bright….GOD can do what we can not, and HE has done it!!!”

A Successful Surgery

She went on to say that they can finally “let our minds and bodies rest” because her husband is getting to return home. The end of the message included tons of gratitude for the positive thoughts and prayers offered up by others. 

“We are ETERNALLY grateful.”

Ray is the fourth of six children born to Lynn and her husband “Doolittle,” and he too shares his mother’s love for making music. In fact, he spent many years of his life joining her on the road, performing as an opener and playing in her band.

He is now a father to his own daughter Tayla Lynn, who was born to Ray and his first wife, Cindy Pelmons in 1975. 

Any further updates regarding Ernest Ray or Clara Marie’s health that the family wishes to share, will likely be posted to Crystal Lynn’s Facebook or Loretta Lynn’s official Instagram page.