Opry Centennial
A Celebration of Country’s Pioneers
During the Grand Ole Opry’s 100-year celebration in March, Reba McEntire took a moment to pause her own performance and honor the women who paved the way for her career: Patsy Cline and Loretta Lynn. Before launching into renditions of their signature songs, Reba told the sold-out Nashville crowd, Those two are my heroes.
On April 14 — what would have been Loretta Lynn’s 93rd birthday — Reba revisited that moment by sharing a clip of her fiery performance of “You Ain’t Woman Enough (To Take My Man)” on Instagram. Her caption read simply: Happy heavenly birthday to my friend and country music trailblazer,
tagging Loretta’s still-active account. Fans filled the comments with heart emojis and birthday wishes, a testament to the enduring love surrounding Lynn’s legacy.
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A Bond Forged in Childhood
For Reba, the connection to Loretta Lynn has always been deeply personal. She first met the country legend at just 11 years old, when Loretta performed at a rodeo in Oklahoma. I whipped off my belt for her to sign,
Reba once recalled. Man, I wish I still had that belt. I love Loretta Lynn.
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What began as admiration grew into mentorship. As Reba carved her own path in country music, Loretta served as a role model and guide, showing younger women how to survive — and thrive — in a male-dominated industry.
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A Trailblazer Remembered
When Loretta Lynn passed away in 2022 at the age of 90, Reba mourned her publicly, comparing her to her own mother — close in age, strong-willed, and fiercely protective. I sure appreciate her paving the rough and rocky road for all us girl singers,
she wrote in a heartfelt tribute.
Carrying the Spirit Forward
That legacy was alive and glowing at the Opry centennial. With her signature grin and undimmed fire after five decades on stage, Reba belted Loretta’s words as if they were her own. The performance was more than a cover — it was a celebration, a thank-you, and a promise to carry Loretta Lynn’s spirit forward for future generations of women in country music.
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