Loretta Lynn’s Eldest Daughter Dies

Loretta Lynn’s eldest daughter died on Monday at the age of 64. A statement from the long-time country music star’s camp explained that Betty Sue Lynn passed away after a battle with emphysema.

Loretta Lynn has six children and a lifetime of country music under her belt. Her life has been chronicled in an autobiography and song, both titled Coal Miner’s Daughter.

The statement by Lynn’s famliy added that Betty Sue Lynn is survived by two daughters, Lynn Markworth and Audrey Dryer, and five grandchildren, reports Billboard.

Lynn was born in 1932 in Kentucky and married at the age of 15. She became pregnant soon after. The couple moved to Washington State and had three children by the time the singer was 19. For their sixth anniversary, her husband bought her a guitar, which she used to teach herself how to play.

While the couple’s relationship was always rocky, Loretta Lynn commented one time, “He never hit me one time that I didn’t hit him back twice.” They stayed together until his death in 1996.

Loretta Lynn’s eldest daughter isn’t her only child to pass away before her, notes CMT. She lost her eldest son, Jack Benny, in 1984 when he was just 34. He died while attempting to cross the Duck River on horseback.

It wasn’t until Loretta had her fourth child that she started singing publicly again. She started in local clubs and eventually formed her own band. Her first recording included I’m A Honky Tonk Girl, which reached No 14 on Billboard’s Country and Western Chart.

In her years, Loretta Lynn has been called the First Lady of Country and the Queen of Country. She has written more than 160 songs and released 60 albums and earned Entertainer of the Year at the Country Music Association Awards in 1972. She continues to sing, but hasn’t released any records since she sang with Miranda Lambert and Sheryl Crow in a 2010 tribute album.

There is no word on funeral arrangements for Loretta Lynn’s eldest daughter. The statement released on Monday thanked friends and fans for their thoughts and prayers during the difficult time.

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