In a career spanning six decades, Lynn released multiple gold albums. The musical film Coal Miner's Daughter was based on her life. Lynn received many awards and other accolades for her groundbreaking role in country music, including awards from both the Country Music Association and Academy of Country Music ACM as a duet partner and an individual artist. She was nominated 18 times for a Grammy Award and won three times.
Lynn scored 24 No. She ended 57 years of touring on the road after she suffered a stroke in and broke her hip in Ted was a coal miner and subsistence farmer. Loretta's father Ted died at the age of 52 from a stroke four years after relocating with her mother and younger siblings to Wabash, Indiana. He had also been battling black lung disease at the time of his death. Through her matriline , Lynn was distant cousins with country singer Patty Loveless.
Lynn began singing in local clubs in the late s. She later formed her own band, the Trailblazers which included her brother Jay Lee Webb. Lynn won a wristwatch in a televised talent contest in Tacoma, Washington , hosted by Buck Owens. Lynn's performance was seen by Canadian Norm Burley of Zero Records , who co-founded the record company after hearing Loretta sing. Lynn signed her first contract on February 2, , with Zero. Through the Wilburns, she secured a contract with Decca Records.
By the end of the year, Billboard magazine listed Lynn as the No. Lynn's relationship with the Wilburn Brothers and her appearances on the Grand Ole Opry, beginning in , [ 21 ] helped Lynn become the No. Her contract with the Wilburn Brothers gave them the publishing rights to her material. She unsuccessfully fought the Wilburn Brothers for 30 years to regain the publishing rights to her songs after ending her business relationship with them.
Lynn stopped writing music in the s because of the contracts. Lynn joined the Grand Ole Opry on September 25, Lynn credited Patsy Cline as her mentor and best friend during her early years in music. You only need one at a time. Lynn released her first Decca single, " Success ", in , and it went straight to No. Lynn's music began to regularly hit the Top 10 after with songs such as " Before I'm Over You ", which peaked at No.
