Country music legend Loretta Lynn took to social media earlier this month to pay tribute to her late husband Oliver Lynn, who was also known as “Mooney” or “Doo,” on what would have been their 73rd wedding anniversary.
Loretta Lynn Honors Her Late Husband
Lynn, 88, honored her late husband by posting a video to Instagram of herself performing her song “I Can’t Hear the Music”. This heart-wrenching ballad debuted on her 2000 album Still Country.
The song, which Loretta Lynn co-wrote herself, tells the story of a loss of a partner who was the narrator’s “toughest critic” and “biggest fan.”
“Today would be our 73rd anniversary,” Lynn wrote in the caption. “I can’t believe it’s been that long. We fought hard and we loved hard. He was my biggest fan and the real force behind my career. He’s the only man I ever loved. I miss you, Doo.”
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Loretta Lynn’s Marriage To Doo
Pop Culture reported that Lynn was only 15 when she married the 21 year-old Doo back in 1948, and they went on to have six children together.
Doo is the person who bought Lynn her first guitar in 1953, and she soon started her own band called Loretta and the Trailblazers, before becoming country music royalty.
Some of Lynn’s most iconic songs were inspired by Doo, including “Don’t Come Home A-Drinkin’ (With Lovin’ on Your Mind)” and “Fist City,” which was a warning to other women to stay away from her man.
Doo and Lynn stayed together until he passed away in 1996 from heart failure at the age of 69.
She later opened up about Doo in her 2002 memoir, “Still Woman Enough,” in which she talked about how he helped her become the success she remains today.
“I could never have done it on my own,” Lynn wrote. “Whatever else our marriage was back in them days … without Doo and his drive to get a better life, there would have been no Loretta Lynn, country singer.”
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Their Marriage Was Far From Perfect
Their relationship was far from perfect, however, as Doo was an alcoholic who both cheated on and physically abused Loretta Lynn. Despite this, she stood by him until the day he died.
“I put up with it because of six kids,” she once said. “And I loved him and he loved me.”
Six years after Doo’s death, Lynn talked about his passing to CBS.
“I miss everything about him,” Lynn said. “There was no decision I ever made without talking it over with him. It’s hard because who do you go to now?”
In the 24 years since Doo’s passing, Lynn has continued to be a true country music legend and to entertain millions of fans with her music.
There really will never be another Loretta Lynn!
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