She came into my life and changed everything, Lynn writes.
That’s what real friendships do.
We made each other better.
I’m Loretta Lynn.
Most people know me as a country music singer.
I’ve been singing for as long as I can remember.
Seems to me I could sing before I could talk.
I have a lot of fans and I love every single one.
But the truth is I’d rather be writing than singing for a crowd.
Writing songs is part of who I am, down deep.
It comes natural as havin a baby, which I can tell you ain’t easy.
I’ve had six!
Putting words to feelings is a lot like that it’s hard but worth every minute of pain.
Maybe it’s cause I’m not what you’d call educated.
But this ain’t my first book.
That wasCoal Miner’s Daughter.
So why write another book at my age?
I’m glad to tell you.
Likely as anything you know her music, and if you don’t, well, you should.
Patsy was a popular country music singer.
She took me under her wing and became one of my greatest friends in this whole world.
She died when we were both still so young.
It was just a little town, really.
Me and Patsy bonded close as sisters.
Not for one single day.
She changed my life forever.
Patsy Cline taught me a bunch that I’ll want to share.
(I’ve been holding back telling that story for a long time.
Just wait’ll you hear it!)
But most of all, Patsy was my confidante and friend.
Her voice still sounds like an angel’s to me.
Patsy was the real deal.
People throw around the word authentic a lot.
With her, it was always what you see is what you get.
That’s one reason we got along so good.
When people are fake, I just can’t stand it!
Patsy didn’t pretend about nothing.
She was as real as it gets.
So I’m gonna share stories about our time together.
Along the way, maybe I’ll encourage people to listen to her music.
Patsy had the richest, most emotional voice you ever heard.
There are lots of her songs worth listening to.
People ask me for advice about how to make it in the music business.
Here’s what Patsy taught me: Nobody can tell you who you are.
Ain’t nobody can be you but you.
Work hard and stay true to yourself.
That’s it, pure and simple.
It’s hard as hell to make it in this business.
You gotta work your ass off, and hard work is rare these days.
That ain’t happening.
Success don’t happen overnight.
There have been a few one-hit wonders.
It did for me.
Patsy was that friend.
We understood each other and we had each other’s backs.
When you have a friend like that, it changes you.
It gives you strength and gives you faith in yourself.
That kind of friendship means more than anything.
If you don’t have one, I hope you’ll open your heart to find one.
Everybody deserves their own Patsy Cline.
I am not bragging on myself, but it makes me deeply proud to hear that.
How did we change country music?
I guess because we were the first to kick down the golden country music doors.
Patsy shut up all those folks who said women can’t sell tickets or records.
She was the first female country singer to cross over to the pop and adult contemporary charts.
She was also one of the first women to headline and sell out her own concerts.
And she was the first female to headline in Vegas.
These changes in the early 1960s were major victories for us girls!
Back then, Patsy didn’t even realize the path she was clearing for all of us to follow.
Now, did we change country music?
Well, you better believe we did!
I named my daughter after Patsy.
That’s how much she meant to me.
When I had my twins the year after Patsy died, I named them Peggy and Patsy.
If only Patsy had been there for that.
She’d have liked it.
She’s heard all my stories about Patsy Cline.
How could I even say the name Patsy without thinking of her?
After a while, my Patsy said, Mommy, we got to get some of these stories down.
I knew she was right.
So that’s why you hold this here book in your hands.
Putting it together has been bittersweet.
It’s been real good for my soul.
I hope you enjoy it as much as I’ve loved putting it together for you.
Foreword by Dolly Parton.
Copyright 2020 by Loretta Lynn and Patsy Lynn Russell.
Reprinted with permission of Grand Central Publishing.
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