Country Superstar Loretta Lynn Honored
As BMI Icon
Nashville,
TN – Superstar Loretta Lynn was named BMI ICON tonight at
the songwriter organization’s annual awards gala in
Nashville. The
pinnacle of the star-studded ceremony came when Lynn was
presented the ICON award by BMI President Emeritus Frances
Preston and Lynn’s friend and musical influence Kitty Wells.
In a heart-felt tribute prior to the presentation, reigning
CMA Female Vocalist of the Year Martina McBride performed
the classic “You Ain’t Woman Enough” and Lynn’s sister,
Crystal Gayle belted-out her signature hit, “Coal Miner’s
Daughter.”
“I love to write,” Lynn said of her BMI recognition, “I’m so
proud to be here tonight and honored to be getting the ICON
award.”
Lynn has released more than 70 charting albums spanning her
44-year career. Along with the Oscar-winning movie about her
life, Lynn’s music has transcended genre barriers with
homespun, yet often controversial, lyrics that thrust the
plainspoken artist to the forefront of America’s
consciousness. She has graced the cover of Newsweek, been
inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, named the
first woman to win Entertainer of the Year by the Country
Music Association (CMA) and last year became the recipient
of the 2003 Kennedy Center Honors.
The BMI Icon honor follows on the heels of Lynn’s two recent
Americana Music Association Awards for Artist of the Year
and Album of the Year recognizing her critically-acclaimed
Interscope album, Van Lear Rose. Comprised of 13 self-penned
songs, Van Lear Rose garnered Loretta's highest career sales
debut entering Billboard's Top 200 at # 24 and Country Album
chart at # 2.
back
