Loretta Lynn Reveals Devastating Loss As Her Ranch Foreman Passes Away In Flood

Aug 26, 2021 by apost team

Loretta Lynn is an American singer and songwriter who is known for her groundbreaking contributions to country music. Her career has spanned six decades and multiple gold records. 

She was made famous from such hits as “You Ain't Woman Enough (To Take My Man),” “Don't Come Home A-Drinkin' (With Lovin' on Your Mind)” and “Coal Miner's Daughter” which was also used as the title to her biographical film in 1980.

Lynn has won awards from the Country Music Association and Academy of Country Music. She has been nominated for 18 Grammy Awards throughout her career and took home 3. Lynn is considered the most awarded female country artist of all time. She has recorded 24 number one hit singles and has seen 11 of her albums also appear at number one. 

Lynn was born Loretta Webb in Butcher Hollow, Kentucky on April 14, 1932. She is the daughter of coal miner and farmer Ted Webb and his wife Clara. She is the eldest daughter of eight children. Her father passed away at the age of 52 in 1959 from black lung disease. 

The artist got married at age 15 to Oliver Vanetta "Doolittle" Lynn. The couple went on to have six children, four of which were born before Loretta had begun her singing career. It is said that the ups and downs of her early marriage are what informed her songwriting at the beginning of her time as a recording artist. Her husband passed away in 1996. 

Lynn is no stranger to heartbreak and has sadly shared on August 22, 2021, that the foreman of her ranch, Wayne Spears, passed away in floods that overtook Tennessee in late August. Keep reading to hear more details about Lynn and this tragic story.

Lynn began her music career when she was 24 with her single “I'm a Honky Tonk Girl.” She earned a record deal and had the chance to perform at the famous Grand Ole Opry. "I just sang up there with my guitar, just like I was doing it at home," she said to NPR. "I never thought about it being the Grand Ole Opry, because if I had, I never would've done it. You just pretty well-gotta figure, well, this is something I could do every day."

Lynn credits her late husband for encouraging her to record her songs. "I miss him so much. He kind of kept things going, like me recording. He'd always tell me how good I was, and that always helped a lot. He would say, 'You know, we need to get a new record out,' or whatever. He always kept me moving. And if it hadn't been for him, I wouldn't have been singing, period. Because he thought I could sing and he put me to work."

The star’s life before she started music wasn't easy. She already had four children and a husband at home and had to work every day to pay their rent. The family lived in Washington State in a logging community.

Lynn shared, "Me and my husband both worked. I took care of a farmhouse, cleaned and cooked for 36 ranch hands before I started singing," she says. "So singing was easy. I thought 'Gee whiz, this is an easy job.'" Today, Lynn owns her own ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee.

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Lynn’s ranch is considered one of the largest attractions in the state. With a heavy heart, she shared on Facebook in late August 2021, that her ranch foreman, Wayne Spears, has died after he was swept up in rising waters due to the flooding in Tennessee. Her post reads: 

“There are no words at the ranch today...only tears. Our ranch family is our family. We lost my amazing ranch foreman, Wayne, in this devastating flood. He took such good care of things here on the ranch for us. He's one of us and the whole Lynn family Is heartbroken. Please pray for his precious family and friends.”

She continued her post below pictures of her and Spears, writing: “With the heaviest of hearts, we are saddened to report that our beloved foreman Wayne Spears did not survive being swept up in the floodwaters.  Wayne has been a family friend to the Lynns and a fixture to the Ranch for decades and we are all devastated by his passing.”

The post concluded with: “The Ranch will never be the same without him but he will always be remembered for his ready smile, kind heart, and willingness to go the extra mile for everyone around him. Eventually, we'll rebuild our community, our ranch, our lives and our homes. but only God could build a man like Wayne Spears. There's just no replacing that. May he rest in peace.”

Our sympathies go out to Lynn and the entire family of workers on her ranch. We wish them peace and healing in this tragic time. 

Our thoughts are with Loretta Lynn. Are you a fan of Lynn’s music? Let us know what you think and be sure to send this on to your friends and family.