Lee Ann Womack grew up idolizing Loretta Lynn. The Texas native had a deep appreciation for the Country Music Hall of Fame member from an early age, later heeding the advice Lynn gave when Womack’s career was just beginning.
“One artist that I loved growing up that I was so excited to meet when I first started out was Loretta Lynn, of course,” Womack shared on social media. “And she was pretty fired up that day about meeting me simply because I was so country and she was so excited about having this really traditional country artist, female artist, coming on the scene.”
Womack had a string of early hits, including “The Fool,” “A Little Past Little Rock” and more. While Womack’s voice definitely leaned toward traditional country music, Lynn made certain that Womack wasn’t going to stray from her roots.
“When we sat down to talk, her main objective was to make sure that I understood that I was never to let a record label or anybody talk me into going pop,” Womack continued. “That’s how she put it: ‘going pop.’ “She was obsessed about that. And so, you know, I told her I didn’t think I really could even if I tried. She was just adamant about that, so that was something I’ve always carried with me.”
#InternationalWomensDay wouldn't be complete without a piece of advice from Loretta!❤️ pic.twitter.com/hggZEAU3tO
— Lee Ann Womack (@leeannwomack) March 8, 2023
Womack did have one song that landed on the pop charts, her mega-hit, “I Hope You Dance,” released in 2000. The song was the title track of her third studio album, and while she might have gained new fans with the sweet song, the song did little to sway Womack from her roots.
“I’ve always been on this road,” Womack previously told Cowboys & Indians. “My first single ‘Never Again, Again’ was so traditional country. We had Ricky [Skaggs] and Sharon [White] come in and sing on it, so I started out that way. Along the way, I recorded some things that were a bit more commercial, but on the whole, I did the music I wanted to do.
“The irony of all this is I had one of the pop crossover songs, but on that same record it starts and ends with a bluegrass song,” she added. “[It starts with] ‘The Healing Kind’ co-written by Ronnie Bowman, who’s a bluegrass guy, and ends with ‘Lord, I Hope This Day Is Good’ by David Hanner.”
Find all of Womacks’ music and tour dates at LeeAnnWomack.com.