Loretta Lynn Gears Up For Birthday Celebration With Music City Shows, New Album

Country legend Loretta Lynn is celebrating her 85th birthday tomorrow (April 14), and she’s celebrating with a few thousand of her friends and fans at two shows at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium April 14 and 15.

The coal miner’s daughter will likely perform a few songs from her upcoming new album, Wouldn’t It Be Great, during the sold-out shows as she gears up for the release of the new Legacy Recordings project later this summer on Aug. 18. The new collection was recorded at the Cash Cabin Studio in Hendersonville, Tennessee with producers Patsy Lynn Russell and John Carter Cash and is available for pre-order now.

The CD features 13 songs written or co-written by Lynn herself, including new tracks “Ruby’s Stool,” “Ain’t No Time To Go,” and “I’m Dying For Someone To Live For,” alongside classics like her signature song “Coal Miner’s Daughter” and “Don’t Come Home A’ Drinkin’ (With Lovin’ On Your Mind)” and some reinterpreted tracks as well.

“I think you try to do better with every record you put out,” Loretta says of the new CD. “It’s just everyday living–and everybody wants to know, ‘Well, what is it about your songs that people like?’ I think you’ve got to tell your stories. I just think it hits everybody, you know, the songs.”

Lynn will return to the Ryman for a bookend set of 2017 shows on Aug. 25-26, and each pair of tickets purchased for these shows will include a copy of the new album. More information can be found at ryman.com.

2017 is shaping up to be a huge year for the icon with the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum mounting a major exhibition opening Aug. 25 on her life, art and music.

Wouldn’t It Be Great Track Listing:
Wouldn’t It Be Great – (Loretta Lynn)
Ruby’s Stool – (Loretta Lynn, Shawn Camp)
I’m Dying for Someone to Live For – (Loretta Lynn, Shawn Camp)
Another Bridge to Burn – (Loretta Lynn, Lola Jean Dillon)
Ain’t No Time to Go – (Loretta Lynn, Patsy Lynn Russell)
God Makes No Mistakes – (Loretta Lynn)
These Ole Blues (Loretta Lynn, Patsy Lynn Russell)
My Angel Mother — (Loretta Lynn)
Don’t Come Home a Drinkin’ – (Loretta Lynn, Peggy Sue Wells)
The Big Man – (Loretta Lynn, Shawn Camp)
Lulie Vars – (Traditional, arrangement by Loretta Lynn)
Darkest Day – (Loretta Lynn)
Coal Miner’s Daughter – (Loretta Lynn)

• Author
• Recent Posts

Lorie Hollabaugh

Hollabaugh, a staff writer at MusicRow magazine, has over 20 years of music business experience and has written for publications including American Profile, CMA Close Up, Nashville Arts And Entertainment, The Boot and Country Weekly. She has a Broadcast Journalism and Speech Communication degree from Texas Christian University, (go Horned Frogs), and welcomes your feedback or story ideas at lhollabaugh@musicrow.com.

Latest posts by Lorie Hollabaugh (see all)

• Dolly Parton Releases Collab With Lainey Wilson, Miley Cyrus, Queen Latifah & Reba McEntire - January 16, 2026
• Vince Gill To Receive Ken Burns American Heritage Prize - January 16, 2026
• Cody Lohden Signs With The Neal Agency - January 16, 2026