Loretta Lynn remained married to her husband for nearly 50 years until his passing
Loretta Lynn, the Grammy-winning country icon, opened up about the intricacies of her marriage to Oliver in her autobiography, “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” playfully dubbing him “Doolittle.” She graciously attributed much of her success to him, asserting that her career simply wouldn’t exist without his influence.
In her own heartfelt words, Lynn expressed, “I wouldn’t have started singing in the first place, and I wouldn’t have had the inspiration for some of my best songs, in the second place.” Her sentiments resonated with a profound acknowledgment, stating, “So in a real sense, Doolittle is responsible for everything we got.”
While acknowledging Oliver as a good husband “in most ways,” Lynn candidly shared, “I don’t want to say he’s never fooled around, or gotten drunk, or whipped me into line a little, because that ain’t the truth. There were plenty of bad moments in our marriage…”
Oliver’s passing in 1996 marked the end of their 48-year marriage. In a poignant revelation, he claimed to Lynn at the end of his life that he had always been faithful, a statement she may not have wholly believed. Despite their “little fights,” Lynn affirmed that he always “meant everything to [her],” stating, “Still does.”
Remarkably, Loretta Lynn lived for over 26 years after Oliver’s death and chose not to remarry before her passing in 2022. Her enduring devotion to Oliver and the complexities of their relationship shine through the pages of her autobiography, offering readers a glimpse into the highs and lows of their enduring bond.
