In a heart-wrenching tribute, Faith Hill, accompanied by her husband Tim McGraw, fought back tears as she honored the late Loretta Lynn.
The country music icon, who had passed away in her sleep at 90, was remembered in an emotionally charged moment that touched everyone present.
Hill’s part of the speech was an impassioned statement about the late country icon’s importance in the genre and in life.
“Loretta was unabashedly honest about hardships and joys about being a wife and mother, a woman living life, loving, lying, cheating, having babies, not having babies — she sang about it all,” Hill says toward the end of the speech. “Women kind of know about that sort of thing.”
McGraw also shared personal memories during their four-and-a-half-minute speech. He recalled Lynn’s music being the soundtrack to his childhood growing up in Start, La.
His wife’s comments drew the loudest applause, however — she at times looked to go off-script to add color to meaning.
“My friendship with Loretta Lynn began about 200 feet behind this stage at the old Opry House Studio C,” Hill begins, needing to catch her breath before she starts speaking. “That’s where Loretta filmed her nightly talk show … and where this young singer with big dreams got to talk to sit, talk, laugh and sing with the force of nature and national treasure that is Loretta Lynn.”
After noting how controversial Lynn’s songs were at the time, Hill circled back to what the legend meant for women in country music today.
“She didn’t just push boundaries for women in country music. She shredded them,” the singer says. Then she chokes up again, singing to stave off tears.
“And she was so dang wise, and funny. I am honored to have been in your presence Loretta. I am grateful to have so many memories with you. I am proud to be a woman in country music. I am proud to be a mom. I am proud to have had the privilege of following you down the musical path you blazed for all of us.”
