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Loretta Lynn, a legend of country music, was a woman of immense strength – both in her voice and her spirit. Her music told stories of love and heartache, often taken from her real life. One of her granddaughters recently opened up about how “Memaw” was her lifeline during a period of childhood abuse.
How Loretta Lynn Helped Granddaughter Escape Childhood Abuse
October 4, 2024, will mark two years since iconic country singer Loretta Lynn’s death. She passed away at the age of 90 after a life well-lived. While her music career was impressive, her family was what made the singer the proudest.
She shared six children with her husband, Oliver “Doolittle” Lynn. They were married for almost 50 years when he passed away in 1996. Loretta Lynn’s children gave her a bounty of twenty-six grandchildren, including American Idol contestant Emmy Russell.
Loretta Lynn’s granddaughter, Tayla Lynn, is also musically inclined. She regularly performs and tours with the grandson of Conway Twitty, Tre Twitty.
Tayla recently opened up on the Rooted Recovery Stories podcast about a time in her life when her grandmother was a beacon of light during an abusive situation.
Tayla’s father is Loretta Lynn’s third-born child, Ernest. When Tayla’s parents divorced, her mother married a man who brought darkness into their lives. Tayla was subjected to physical and emotional abuse, leaving her with painful bruises and deep-seated scars. Despite her pleas for help, few believed her, and the abuse continued.
Many of the adults in her life didn’t believe her about the abuse. However, her grandmother did. Tayla recounted how Loretta Lynn took photos of the bruises to document the abuse.
Unfortunately, Tayla’s mother was also caught in the cycle of abuse, but having her grandmother believe her helped Tayla cope.
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Tayla Lynn Previously Opened Up About Overcoming Addiction
Loretta Lynn was also by her granddaughter’s side during her battle with addiction. She told PEOPLE magazine that her grandmother helped get her into rehab in 1997. Tayla had several relapses after that but has been sober for over ten years.
“To go from getting arrested in the projects and weighing 82 lbs. and selling my body for drugs to now making a record and having people respect me and to stand on the stage with my little boys in the wings watching me is just incredible,” Lynn concludes. “If I wasn’t sober, I wouldn’t be here.”
Loretta Lynn may have passed on, but her impact lives on. Through music, yes, but also through the generations of Lynns she’s touched.
If you or someone you know is a victim of abuse, seek help immediately. Call the National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453) or the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE).