Carly Pearce is one of the rising stars of country music, and she has a special connection to one of the genre’s legends, Loretta Lynn. Pearce wrote a song called “Dear Miss Loretta” as a tribute to Lynn, and even received a heartfelt voicemail from her after she performed it at the Grand Ole Opry. But are the two singers actually related by blood or marriage? Here’s what we know.
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The Inspiration Behind “Dear Miss Loretta”
Pearce debuted “Dear Miss Loretta” at the Grand Ole Opry in March 2021, and explained that she wrote it as a letter to Lynn, who she has never met. She said that she was inspired by Lynn’s honesty and courage in writing songs about her life, especially her struggles as a woman in a male-dominated industry.
“I wrote this song because I feel like I’ve lived a lot of life in my 30 years on this planet,” Pearce said. “And I feel like this woman has taught me how to tell my stories unapologetically.”
The song references some of Lynn’s iconic hits, such as “Coal Miner’s Daughter” and “You Ain’t Woman Enough,” and expresses Pearce’s admiration and gratitude for Lynn’s influence.
“I ain’t a coal miner’s daughter / But I’ve sung it all my life / I ain’t been a widow / But I’ve been an ex-wife / And I hear your truth / And I feel your pain / Now I know why you sang that way / Yeah, I know why you sang that way,” Pearce sings in the chorus.
The Voicemail from Loretta Lynn
Pearce was overjoyed when she found out that Lynn had heard her song and loved it. She received a voicemail from Lynn in 2021, after Lynn watched her performance on the Opry livestream.
“Hi Carly. This is Loretta, honey. I’m layin’ here in bed just takin’ it easy, and I’m fixing’ to get up and wash my face, maybe, comb my hair. I don’t know. I ain’t got no place to go, have I? But anyway, I love your song. Thank you, sweetheart. I love you, honey. Come and see me sometime,” Lynn said in the message.
Pearce shared the voicemail with the Opry audience on October 4, 2022, the same day that Lynn passed away at the age of 90. She said that she listened to the message a lot that day, and that it captured “the purest form and the essence of her beautiful soul.”
She then performed “Dear Miss Loretta” with a photo of Lynn behind her on the screen, earning a standing ovation from the crowd.
The Family Connection Between Carly Pearce and Loretta Lynn
So, is there any family connection between Carly Pearce and Loretta Lynn? The answer is no. Pearce is not related to Lynn by blood or marriage. They are both from Kentucky, but they have different backgrounds and family histories.
Pearce was born in Taylor Mill, Kentucky, in 1990. She grew up listening to country music and started performing at a young age. She moved to Nashville when she was 19, and worked as a waitress and songwriter before landing a record deal.
Lynn was born in Butcher Hollow, Kentucky, in 1932. She grew up in poverty and married Oliver “Doolittle” Lynn when she was 15. She had six children and started singing at local clubs before becoming a country superstar.
The two singers may not share any DNA, but they do share a love for country music and storytelling. Pearce has said that Lynn is one of her biggest influences and role models, and that she hopes to meet her someday.
“I just hope that she knows how much she means to me,” Pearce said. “And how much she means to all of us.”
