“Scroll down to the end of the article to listen to music.”
Introduction
That 2011 ACM Girls Night Out special remains vivid in my memory! It truly created an unforgettable milestone in country music when the genre’s most gifted female artists gathered to honor Loretta Lynn—a trailblazer who created opportunities for every woman in country music who came after her.
There was an undeniable magic in the room as Reba, Miranda, Martina, Carrie, Jennifer, and the Judds shared the stage. The moment they launched into “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” goosebumps covered my arms! Their distinctive vocals harmonized magnificently, elevating the performance beyond a simple cover into a profound homage to Loretta’s monumental impact on country music.
The genuine reverence showed in their expressions and resonated in every note they sang. Their performance radiated a perfect balance of respect and adoration with each verse. As they concluded, the audience erupted in thunderous applause—their reaction expressing what words simply couldn’t about the powerful musical connection everyone experienced together.
Although Loretta couldn’t join in person while recovering from knee surgery, her heartfelt video message made it feel like she was there throughout the celebration. To this day, fans continue to treasure this collaboration online. As one viewer perfectly captured it: “Well ladies you did good!! Nobody could top Ms. Loretta singing it but you ladies actually sounded like y’all rolled right out of a holler somewhere!”
Video
Lyrics
Well, I was borned a coal miner’s daughter
In a cabin, on a hill in Butcher Holler
We were poor but we had love
That’s the one thing that daddy made sure of
He shoveled coal to make a poor man’s dollar
My daddy worked all night in the Van Lear coal mines
All day long in the field a hoin’ corn
Mommy rocked the babies at night
And read the Bible by the coal oil light
And ever’ thing would start all over come break of morn’
Daddy loved and raised eight kids on a miner’s pay
Mommy scrubbed our clothes on a washboard every day
Why, I’ve seen her fingers bleed
To complain, there was no need
She’d smile in mommy’s understanding way
In the summertime we didn’t have shoes to wear
But in the wintertime we’d all get a brand new pair
From a mail order catalog
Money made from selling a hog
Daddy always managed to get the money somewhere
Yeah, I’m proud to be a coal miner’s daughter
I remember well, the well where I drew water
The work we done was hard
At night we’d sleep ’cause we were tired
Never thought of ever leaving Butcher Holler
Well, a lot of things have changed since a way back then
Ah, and it’s so good to be back home again
Not much left but the floors, nothing lives here anymore
‘Cept the memories of a coal miner’s daughter
‘Cept the memories of a coal miner’s daughter