Loretta Lynn Celebrates 60th Opry Anniversary: ‘Time Flies When You’re Having Fun’
Loretta Lynn celebrated her 60th anniversary as a member of the Grand Ole Opry on Sunday (Sept. 25). The country…
Loretta Lynn; Photo Courtesy Grand Ole Opry
Loretta Lynn celebrated her 60th anniversary as a member of the Grand Ole Opry on Sunday (Sept. 25).
The country music icon joined the coveted institution on September 25, 1962, just two years after making her Opry debut.
Lynn reflected on the career milestone on social media with several throwback photos from the Grand Ole Opry.
“Time flies when you’re having fun! 60 years ago a dream came true when I became a member of the @opry,” Lynn shared. “It’s still the most magical place in the world and holds so many wonderful memories for me!”
The gallery included 10 photos spanning Lynn’s many performances at the Opry, including appearances with the Pistol Annies, Garth Brooks, and her sister, Crystal Gayle.
The Grand Ole Opry marked the occasion on social media as well with a special post dedicated to Lynn.
“Help us wish Opry member @LorettaLynn a very happy 60th Opry anniversary today,” the Opry account shared.
While the “You Ain’t Woman Enough” singer did not return to the Opry in honor of her 60th anniversary, she did visit the iconic stage to celebrate her 50th anniversary one decade ago. The special evening included performances from Lynn, Gayle, Pistol Annie, Lee Ann Womack, and Trace Adkins.
The Pistol Annies, composed of Miranda Lambert, Ashley Monroe, and Angaleena Presley, made their Opry debut on Lynn’s 50th Opry anniversary and honored her with a cover of “Fist City.”
Re-live their tribute performance below.
Loretta Lynn is known as the Queen of Country Music after forging a path as a singer, songwriter, and entertainer while balancing her role as a wife and mother. She has 16 No.1 hits to her name, including “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” and “Don’t Come Home A’ Drinkin’ (With Lovin’ on Your Mind).”
The Kentucky native cherishes her role as a member of the Grand Ole Opry.
“I’d like to say the greatest moment of my life was when they inducted me into the Grand Ole Opry,” Lynn previously said. “It’s a moment you only feel once in your life.”
Lynn is a celebrated artist with inductions into The Country Music Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame. She was the first woman to be named the Country Music Association’s Entertainer of the Year in 1972 and has four GRAMMYs to her name.
To date, she has sold more than 45 million records worldwide.
Lauren Jo Black, a University of Central Florida graduate, has immersed herself in the world of country music for over 15 years. In 2008, she co-founded CountryMusicIsLove, eventually selling it to a major record label in 2015. Following the rebranding of the website to Sounds Like Nashville, Black served as Editor-in-Chief for two and a half years. Currently, she assumes the role of Editor-in-Chief at Country Now and oversees Country Now’s content and digital footprint. Her extensive experience also encompasses her previous role as a Country Music Expert Writer for Answers.com and her work being featured on Forbes.com. She’s been spotlighted among Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. Black also spent time in front of the camera as host of Country Now Live, which brought live music directly to fans in 2021 when the majority of concerts were halted due to the pandemic. During this time, she hosted 24 weeks of live concerts via Country Now Live on Twitch with special guests such as Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Jordan Davis, Brett Young, and Jon Pardi. Over the course of her career, she has had the privilege of conducting interviews with some of the industry’s most prominent stars, including Reba McEntire, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson, and many others. Lauren Jo Black is a longtime member of the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.
You may also like
Country Next
Playlist
On Repeat
Get the latest country music news delivered straight to your inbox.
