Carly Pearce has made no secret of her love and admiration for Loretta Lynn, including the song “Dear Miss Loretta” on her 29: Written in Stone album. So it seemed only fitting that Pearce would honor Lynn, who was 90 years old when she passed away last month, at the recent CMA Awards, joined by fellow Grand Ole Opry members Ricky Skaggs and Sonya Isaacs.

“I’m Carly Pearce. I grew up in Kentucky like the great Loretta Lynn,” Pearce said ahead of their performance. “My Mamaw Pearce and I loved to listen to Loretta’s songs together. I think Mamaw loved Loretta so much, because she too was a coal miner’s daughter. I never met Loretta. I always wished I would have. But I wrote this song in tribute to her, because I so admire everything about her, especially the way she wrote about her life, unapologetically. Loretta, this is for you.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39uIHTRyhXo

Pearce previously said that she felt a certain kinship to Lynn, which is what inspired the song, written in honor of the country music icon.

“Loretta and I did have a lot of similarities growing up in Kentucky,” Pearce told PopCulture.com.  “And now I feel like as an adult, yes, I loved her as a kid because my grandma was like, ‘If you’re going to sing country music, you’re going to love Loretta.’ And it was like, ‘Got it.’ But now as an adult, I understand what she was singing about so much more. Are our stories identical? No, but we are pushing the envelope of what is, quote-unquote, acceptable to sing about.”

Pearce wasn’t the only one who performed in honor of Lynn at the CMA Awards. The ceremony began with a star-studded medley of Lynn’s hits, by Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert and Reba McEntire.

Pearce also had another chance to perform at the CMA Awards. The “What He Didn’t Do” singer sang “You’re Drunk, Go Home,” with Kelsea Ballerini and Kelly Clarkson, performing the song live together for the first time. The song is from Ballerini’s latest Subject to Change album, out now.

Pearce went into the CMA Awards with five nominations, including one for Female Vocalist of the Year, which went to Lainey Wilson . Peace walked away with one trophy, for Musical Event of the Year, for her Never Wanted To Be That Girl” collaboration with Ashley McBryde.

See a list of all of the CMA Awards winners here.

Photo Credit: Acacia Evans/CMA

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