Tayla Lynn, Granddaughter of Loretta Lynn, Recalls a Disturbing Story of Her Days of Addiction

Loretta Lynn’s granddaughter, Tayla Lynn, is opening up about her previous struggles with addition in a new interview with People. …

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Lauren Jo Black

| Posted on

July 9, 2021

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7:21 pm

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Loretta Lynn and Tayla Lynn; Photos via Instagram

Loretta Lynn’s granddaughter, Tayla Lynn, is opening up about her previous struggles with addition in a new interview with People

Tayla, 44, who once toured as part of the country trio Stealing Angels, detailed her darkest days and shared how her grandmother inspired her to do better. 

“There was a time when I didn’t want to wake up and see tomorrow,” Tayla admitted to the publication. “When you’re hiding from God, the last thing you want to do is see the sunrise.”

Troubling times began in 1997 when the country icon asked Tayla to join her on the road. As she battled with addiction, her grandmother attempted to help by keeping her from going on the road. 

 

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by Tayla Lynn (@taylalynnfinger)

“The way she handled it was, I wasn’t allowed to go on the road,” Tayla explained. “Going on the road with her was like heaven to me, being able to be on her bus and eat dinner with her and sit with her in the back after the shows to debrief about the show. That was my favorite thing in the world. But she wouldn’t allow it if I got myself in any trouble.”

Loretta quickly realized that Tayla’s addiction was real she sent her to rehab that same year, but unfortunately, her recovery was short lived and she once again turned to alcohol, pills, cocaine and heroin. In 2004, Tayla got sober for the first time but several years later, her addiction took over once again after she got married and became a mother.   

“You’re sitting there in the middle of this fancy neighborhood in Seattle, not being faithful in your marriage and breastfeeding your baby while you’re doing drugs and all of a sudden you wake up and say to yourself, ‘What in the hell am I doing?!’” Tayla recalled of one of her lowest points. 

 

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by Tayla Lynn (@taylalynnfinger)

Earlier this month, she took to Instagram to share her excitement over being eight years sober and revealed that at one point she was “an 82 pound crack and heroin addict.”

“When I got arrested in the projects I could finally breathe,” she wrote. “The fight was over.” 

Now, Tayla is eight years sober and is releasing her first-ever solo project, Tayla Lynn Sings Loretta Lynn.

A tribute to her grandmother, whom she affectionately calls Memaw, the project includes 13 Loretta Lynn covers including “You Ain’t Woman Enough,” “Fist City” and “The Pill,” as well as duets on “Sweet Thing” with special guest Tony Booth (singing the part made famous by Ernest Tubb) and the song that defined her grandmother’s career, “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” with her Aunt Patsy Lynn Russell.

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“I love working and writing with Memaw [as she affectionately calls her grandmother],” Tayla said. “Early in my career, she took me out on the road for a year and taught me how to walk the stage, sing a sad song, be funny and treat the audience like you are in their living room.”

Tayla Lynn Sings Loretta Lynn is available for purchase HERE.

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Lauren Jo Black

Written by

Lauren Jo Black

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.