There is something so honest and true about Loretta Lynn. I had no idea she was best of friends with Patsy Cline during the early 1960s until I read this book. And what a friendship they had. I'm not sure how much dust they kicked up, but there were definitely some shenanigans.
Already an established Nashville star by the time they met, Patsy showed Loretta the ropes and provided pivotal life lessons. Patsy was considered tall at 5'6" and combined with her larger than life personality and established career, she was like an older sister to the 5'2" Loretta, fresh from the country. Even though they were exactly the same age and Loretta was a mother of four when she made her move to Nashville, she was still the girl from Butcher Holler at heart and very naive in the ways of the world. Patsy taught her how to shave her legs, apply make-up and drive a car for starters. She also taught her the behind-the-scenes workings of the Opry and country music world and helped Loretta stand up to industry bullies.
The late 1950s and early 1960s were not an easy time to be a woman in the music industry whether you were at the top of the charts and wanting to stay there or just starting out. The story of the friendship between these two women was a breath of fresh air. Then, sadly, as Loretta's star was starting to shine Patsy's light was tragically put out. There's a lot in the book about the time surrounding Patsy's death, and it's sad to read.
But the story doesn't end there. Loretta's career continues on for 50 more years with the bestselling autobiography Coal Miner's Daughter and subsequent movie, and she becomes the first woman named "Entertainer of the Year" by the Country Music Association. The book closes with Loretta's star-studded 87th birthday concert at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville in 2019. Most of the stars performed Loretta's hits. Brandi Carlisle covered Patsy Cline's "She's Got You" in memory of their friendship. It was a fitting tribute to both women.
A foreword about the value of female friendships is written by Dolly Parton. Dolly shares her history with her own best friend, Judy Ogle. She's known Judy since they were in third grade. They've been best friends for more than 64 years.
Available from Madison Public Library and Wisconsin's Digital Library in a variety of formats.