Carrie Underwood is remembering her friend and musical hero, Loretta Lynn. The American Idol alum shared a touching, and slightly humorous memory, of the first time she met the Country Music Hall of Fame member.

“The first time I met Loretta Lynn was at the Grand Ole Opry at the beginning of my career,” Underwood remembered. “I was chatting in the corner with another artist and someone walked behind me and smacked me on the rear end! I turned around and there she was…in a big sparkly dress…laughing as she continued to walk down the hall at what she had just done…This is one of my most favorite stories to tell. I think it sums up her personality pretty well. She was a cantankerous little pistol…friendly and sweet…never afraid to be herself and speak her mind.

“Over the years, I have had the honor of singing for her…and also with her…in some of the most special moments of my career,” she continued. “She is irreplaceable. She will be incredibly missed…but her legacy lives on in those of us whom she has influenced. I am truly grateful to have known such an amazing woman and artist. Thank you, Loretta, for showing us how it’s done. May you Rest In Peace in the arms of Jesus and add your heavenly voice to the angel choir.”

 

Underwood and Reba McEntire joined Lynn in singing on the title track of Lynn’s 50th studio album, Still Woman Enough, released in 2021.

“When we were talking about doing this, and you hear the song title, ‘Still Woman Enough,’ you know it’s gonna be something sassy,” Underwood said at the time. “And then when I heard it, it definitely made sense that the three of us would be singing it together. It does kind of feel like this not just female get-together song, but it’s like, we’re lifting each other up. We’re standing together, and I love moments like that, where we get to do that, we get to do things like that together.”

Lynn passed away on October 4 at her home in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee. Funeral arrangements have yet to be announced.