Tribute compilations rarely do anybody justice. Recorded by disparate artists under disparate circumstances, they're inconsistent by definition. But every now and then one jells like Coal Miner's Daughter: A Tribute to Loretta Lynn. The title track is sung by Miranda Lambert, then Sheryl Crow and Loretta Lynn herself.
The occasion of this 12-track collection is the 50th anniversary of Lynn's first record and first hit, "I'm a Honky Tonk Girl." In 1960, her sound was pretty hayseed by the standards of the time, even those of country radio.
On the tribute record, however, Lee Ann Womack takes the same milestone song just a little harder and more country — the ornamentation is more pronounced, the accent a touch thicker.
Almost all the women here go for such slight exaggerations, which reminds us of what Loretta Lynn achieved for so many of the female country singers whose career paths followed hers: the freedom to make hay off the speech and sounds they grew up with, stylizing them and reveling in them. On my favorite example, Oklahoma-born American Idol winner Carrie Underwood covers Lynn's "You're Looking at Country."
Even if Underwood is pushing it a little, she's also having a ball. So are a whole bunch of female singers who want the world to know how much they owe the honky tonk girl — Gretchen Wilson, Allison Moorer, Reba McEntire, Martina McBride. Duet partners Alan Jackson and Steve Earle let loose too.
By comparison, White Stripe Jack White sounds slightly out of place even though was he the one who reignited Lynn's late career by arranging and producing her Van Lear Rose in 2004. Coal Miner's Daughter is for country's ladies, including hard-rocking Tennessee pop idol Hayley Williams of Paramore, who fits right in just singing and strumming an acoustic guitar.
Tribute compilations rarely do anybody justice. Recorded by disparate artists under disparate circumstances, they're inconsistent by definition. But every now and then one jells like Coal Miner's Daughter: A Tribute to Loretta Lynn. The title track is sung by Miranda Lambert, then Sheryl Crow and Loretta Lynn herself.
The occasion of this 12-track collection is the 50th anniversary of Lynn's first record and first hit, "I'm a Honky Tonk Girl." In 1960, her sound was pretty hayseed by the standards of the time, even those of country radio.
On the tribute record, however, Lee Ann Womack takes the same milestone song just a little harder and more country — the ornamentation is more pronounced, the accent a touch thicker.
Almost all the women here go for such slight exaggerations, which reminds us of what Loretta Lynn achieved for so many of the female country singers whose career paths followed hers: the freedom to make hay off the speech and sounds they grew up with, stylizing them and reveling in them. On my favorite example, Oklahoma-born American Idol winner Carrie Underwood covers Lynn's "You're Looking at Country."
Even if Underwood is pushing it a little, she's also having a ball. So are a whole bunch of female singers who want the world to know how much they owe the honky tonk girl — Gretchen Wilson, Allison Moorer, Reba McEntire, Martina McBride. Duet partners Alan Jackson and Steve Earle let loose too.
By comparison, White Stripe Jack White sounds slightly out of place even though was he the one who reignited Lynn's late career by arranging and producing her Van Lear Rose in 2004. Coal Miner's Daughter is for country's ladies, including hard-rocking Tennessee pop idol Hayley Williams of Paramore, who fits right in just singing and strumming an acoustic guitar.
Jon Kopaloff, FilmMagic
How old is Loretta Lynn? The Country Music Awards honored Loretta Lynn last night [Nov. 10] with the Living Legend award, leaving many to wonder exactly how old this legend is.
One of country music's all-time greats, Loretta Lynn was born Loretta Webb in Butcher Hollow, Ky. She told her life story in the best-selling 1976 biography, 'Coal Miner's Daughter,' which was later made into an Academy Award winning film starring Sissy Spacek as the legendary singer. Spacek, Miranda Lambert and Sheryl Crow were on hand to bestow the Living Legend honor upon Lynn, who received a standing ovation from the audience.
Including solo and duet work, Loretta Lynn has released 16 No. 1 country hits over the course of her career, one that has spanned nearly six decades. Born on April 14, 1934, Loretta Lynn is 76 years old.
Jon Kopaloff, FilmMagic
How old is Loretta Lynn? The Country Music Awards honored Loretta Lynn last night [Nov. 10] with the Living Legend award, leaving many to wonder exactly how old this legend is.
One of country music's all-time greats, Loretta Lynn was born Loretta Webb in Butcher Hollow, Ky. She told her life story in the best-selling 1976 biography, 'Coal Miner's Daughter,' which was later made into an Academy Award winning film starring Sissy Spacek as the legendary singer. Spacek, Miranda Lambert and Sheryl Crow were on hand to bestow the Living Legend honor upon Lynn, who received a standing ovation from the audience.
Including solo and duet work, Loretta Lynn has released 16 No. 1 country hits over the course of her career, one that has spanned nearly six decades. Born on April 14, 1934, Loretta Lynn is 76 years old.
ATLANTA -- Lynn Turner, who was convicted in 2007 of killing her husband and boyfriend with antifreeze, has died in prison.
Officials said Turner, 42, died in Metro State Prison in Atlanta on Monday.
A release from corrections officials said Turner was found in her cell at 6:55 a.m. Monday and that prison medical staff and EMS crews were unable to revive her.
The cause of death is under investigation by the GBI Medical Examiner's office.
The trial found that Turner murdered her husband, Cobb County police officer Maurice Turner in 1995, and in 2001, killed her boyfriend, Forsyth County firefighter Randy Thompson -- both by poisoning with antifreeze.
She was serving a life sentence for Thompson's murder.
ATLANTA -- Lynn Turner, who was convicted in 2007 of killing her husband and boyfriend with antifreeze, has died in prison.
Officials said Turner, 42, died in Metro State Prison in Atlanta on Monday.
A release from corrections officials said Turner was found in her cell at 6:55 a.m. Monday and that prison medical staff and EMS crews were unable to revive her.
The cause of death is under investigation by the GBI Medical Examiner's office.
The trial found that Turner murdered her husband, Cobb County police officer Maurice Turner in 1995, and in 2001, killed her boyfriend, Forsyth County firefighter Randy Thompson -- both by poisoning with antifreeze.
She was serving a life sentence for Thompson's murder.