From the very early years of her career, Connie Smith idolized Loretta Lynn, and remained in awe of her musical idol — and later close friend — until Lynn passed away on October 4 when she was 90 years old.
“Loretta always cared,” Smiths tells The Tennessean. “She opened doors to success for all of us and was a queen of country music. I think it was the Charlie Louvin song that she sang with Conway Twitty, and later with (Smith’s husband Marty Stuart), ‘Will You Visit Me on Sundays,’ that says one of the best ways to remember her. ‘Promise me that time won’t separate me from your memory.'”
It’s unlikely that Smith will ever forget Lynn. Not only did Lynn model how to be an artist, she also modeled how to have a life off of the road, showing Smith how to prioritize family over everything else, including her career.
“Above everything else – and at times, she was the hottest singer in the world – Loretta was a mama first,” Smith reveals. “Parenthood didn’t faze her. She could be in the middle of doing anything, but she’d always take the time to be sure to correct her children’s behavior herself in front of everyone. It didn’t matter.”
Lynn famously brought Smith on to sing with her at the Grand Ole Opry one night, during Lynn’s set, when Smith wasn’t scheduled to appear. It’s just one of the many, many ways Lynn impacted Smith, with her legacy continuing even in her absence.
“I miss her a lot,” says Smith. “It’s a big loss, but she’s going to be with me for the rest of my life.”
Stuart also spoke out about Lynn, and her impact on country music, shortly after the news of her death was announced.
“I loved Loretta, as a matter of fact everybody loved Loretta,” Stuart shared on social media. “She left us enough to talk and sing about for the rest of our lives and beyond. She was a true American folk hero. A once in a lifetime person. Her loss is immeasurable.”
Lynn passed away peacefully at her home in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee on October 4. Funeral services have yet to be announced.
Read ’11 Things to Know About Loretta Lynn’ here.