Loretta Lynn, the country singer behind classics like “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” passed away at her home at the age of 90. Her family posted the news on Instagram, writing, “‘Our precious mom, Loretta Lynn, passed away peacefully this morning, October 4th, in her sleep at home at her beloved ranch in Hurricane Mills.’ The family of Loretta Lynn. The family has asked for privacy during this time, as they grieve. An announcement regarding a memorial will be forthcoming in a public announcement.” Lynn had experienced several health issues since 2017, including a stroke and broken hip.

Just a few days before her death, Lynn posted John 3:20-21, which says, “Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.” Born in Butcher Hollow Kentucky in “mine country,” the singer broke barriers in the music industry for women, becoming the first woman to win the Country Music Association’s Entertainer of the Year and also earned a Presidential Medal of Freedom. When she started her career, she was already a mother of four and yet had a very prolific career. She released more than 60 albums and reached number one numerous times. She was also a deep woman of faith, despite many hardships. Her husband of nearly 50 years until his death in 1996, Oliver “Doo” Lynn, was an alcoholic throughout their marriage and her son, Jack Benny died in 1984 while crossing a bridge. Her daughter, Betty Sue, died of emphysema in 2013.

In 1976, Lynn detailed her faith in her autobiography, “Coal Miner’s Daughter” writing that she had grown up in the church and, “believed it all, but for some reason, I was never baptized. After I started in music, I got away from going to church and reading the Bible. I believe I was living the way God meant me to, but I wasn’t giving God the right attention.” She was baptized years later as an adult after witnessing the changes in bandmate John Thornhill’s life after he got baptized. “I’ve tried to keep up my religion since then. I can’t get to church most Sundays because of my traveling, but I’ll read the Bible whenever I can,” she wrote. Her friend, Terry Rush, a former pastor who met the star in the 80s, commemorated her life and faith, writing, “Her life was a mixture of fame coupled with hardship. In the midst of both extremes, her faith in God was strong. She blessed people world-wide via her talent and her attentive compassion.”