The life and music of country music legend Loretta Lynn will be celebrated in a new musical inspired by her autobiography.
Less than a month after the official announcement that the Broadway-bound Dolly: An Original Musical will premiere August 8 in Nashville, we learned this week about another upcoming stage musical focused on a country music legend. Coal Miner’s Daughter, inspired by Loretta Lynn’s autobiography and the Oscar-winning film adaptation of the same title, currently is in development under the direction of Tony Award-winner Sam Gold (Fun Home).
Two-time Tony honoree Sutton Foster (Thoroughly Modern Millie, Anything Goes) has been cast as Loretta Lynn in the production, which will feature many of Lynn’s most beloved songs. Patsy Lynn, the late singer’s daughter, manager, and producer, and longtime advisor Nancy Russell will serve as consulting producers, with the producing team led by Kristin Caskey, Mike Isaacson, Bee Carrozzini and ATG Entertainment.
“We are so grateful to see that our mother's life story and music will continue to touch the hearts of audiences and remain an important statement of the American dream,” Lynn’s family said in a prepared statement. “As one of the last creative projects our mom was so passionate about, we are thankful that she had the opportunity to experience the initial stages of Sutton's sincere portrayal of Loretta. Mom absolutely fell in love with her and thought she was just the right person to play her onstage. The family is moved by this incredible team's commitment to her legacy.”
Sissy Spacek received an Academy Award as Best Actress for her portrayal of Lynn in the 1980 biopic Coal Miner’s Daughter, which co-starred Tommy Lee Jones as the singer’s husband Doolittle Lynn, and was directed by Michael Apted (Thunderheart, The World is Not Enough). The stage adaptation chronicles Lynn’s rise from humble beginnings in rural Kentucky to country music superstardom, and will share stories from her life beyond the film’s ending.
For the benefit of those who tuned in late: Country music great Loretta Lynn left an indelible mark on her genre of choice with a career spanning over six decades. Known for her powerful storytelling and unapologetically honest lyrics, she sold over 45 million records worldwide and earned numerous accolades, including multiple Grammy Awards, Country Music Association (CMA) awards, and a Presidential Medal of Freedom. Her legacy includes timeless hits such as “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” “You Ain’t Woman Enough,” and “The Pill.”
Lynn’s career, which began in the early 1960s, was marked by its longevity and influence. She passed away on October 4, 2022, at the age of 90, leaving behind a profound impact on music and culture.
Her friendship with the late Patsy Cline was dramatized in the 2019 Lifetime movie Patsy & Loretta, which featured another Tony-winner, Jessie Mueller (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical), as Lynn and Broadway vet Megan Hilty (9 to 5: The Musical) as Cline.
