“Scroll down to the end of the article to listen to music.”
Introduction
The 2011 ACM Girls Night Out celebration honoring Loretta Lynn remains one of my most treasured memories in country music history. I’m still moved when I think about that remarkable evening when the genre’s finest female vocalists united to pay homage to the trailblazing icon who created pathways for all women artists who followed.
I can almost feel again that magnetic energy that filled the room as Reba, Miranda, Martina, Carrie, Jennifer, and the Judds shared the spotlight. The goosebumps that covered my arms when their voices joined for “Coal Miner’s Daughter” are unforgettable! Each distinctive vocal style contributed to a harmonious blend that transformed this performance into something far beyond a simple cover—it became a heartfelt celebration of Loretta’s tremendous legacy.
The genuine reverence shone in their expressions and resonated in every musical phrase. Their tribute struck that rare and beautiful balance between professional admiration and personal affection throughout the performance. When the final notes faded, the audience erupted in thunderous appreciation that perfectly captured the emotional significance of what we’d all witnessed.
Though recovering from knee surgery prevented Loretta from attending physically, her heartwarming video message made her spiritual presence felt throughout the celebration. To this day, fans continue discovering and treasuring this collaboration online. As one viewer so eloquently commented: “Well ladies you did good!! Nobody could top Ms. Loretta singing it but you ladies actually sounded like y’all rolled right out of a holler somewhere!”
Video
Lyrics
Well, I was borned a coal miner’s daughter
In a cabin, on a hill in Butcher Holler
We were poor but we had love
That’s the one thing that daddy made sure of
He shoveled coal to make a poor man’s dollar
My daddy worked all night in the Van Lear coal mines
All day long in the field a hoin’ corn
Mommy rocked the babies at night
And read the Bible by the coal oil light
And ever’ thing would start all over come break of morn’
Daddy loved and raised eight kids on a miner’s pay
Mommy scrubbed our clothes on a washboard every day
Why, I’ve seen her fingers bleed
To complain, there was no need
She’d smile in mommy’s understanding way
In the summertime we didn’t have shoes to wear
But in the wintertime we’d all get a brand new pair
From a mail order catalog
Money made from selling a hog
Daddy always managed to get the money somewhere
Yeah, I’m proud to be a coal miner’s daughter
I remember well, the well where I drew water
The work we done was hard
At night we’d sleep ’cause we were tired
Never thought of ever leaving Butcher Holler
Well, a lot of things have changed since a way back then
Ah, and it’s so good to be back home again
Not much left but the floors, nothing lives here anymore
‘Cept the memories of a coal miner’s daughter
‘Cept the memories of a coal miner’s daughter