Loretta Lynn - Me & Patsy Kickin Up Dust: My Friendship with Patsy Cline

Friendship is important, but a friendship between two women is always great. Im so happy that Loretta and Patsy had that. I have had a best friend, Judy Ogle, for sixty-plus years, and theres nothing like someone knowing exactly who you are, who you were, who you want to be. Its nice to be able to be as open and honest with someone else as you are with yourself. I think friendship is a wonderful thing, and its beautiful that women can have and share that kind of relationship. Theres nobody like my best friend Judy, and Im sure thats how Patsy and Loretta felt.

There is not a person in the music industry who does not feel like Patsy Cline and Loretta Lynn blazed a trail for the rest of us to follow. With their distinct voices, memorable lyrics, and emotional stories, they set the tone for what all musicians aspire toto this day. Nobody else sounds like Loretta, and nobody else sounds like Patsy.

The first time I heard Patsy Clines voice, it really caught my ear. She is a true stylist, and I just thought it was so very different and so unusual. I have always loved her sound. Im a great admirer of people who have developed their own style. My favorite song of Patsys was Walkin After Midnight. It was haunting and special and painted a picture that I will never forget. I know the fans loved the song Crazy, which I did as well, but we all have our favorites. Just like Coat of Many Colors is my favorite song that Ive written, Coal Miners Daughter is my favorite song of Lorettas. Everybody loves a story song, and I think Loretta is a true storyteller.

I got to know Loretta because we were both girl singers, so to speak, on two of the biggest-ever syndicated country music shows: The Wilburn Brothers Show and The PorterWagoner Show. Sometimes I feel like we eclipsed our male counterparts, which caused friction. We drew our own fans, and I think we both kind of knew that. I think we could both smile with each other and say, Hey, girl, were doin all right, aint we?! Even though Porter Wagoner and the Wilburn Brothers had been good enough to give us a break and a chance, and we both appreciated and respected that, we were very proud of ourselves and of each other for being able to withstand all that we did and to just stand up there with the best of them.

I think its wonderful that women are doing great in country music. There were a few of us back then, and theres many more of us now. Im hoping that country music will always open its doors, arms, hearts, and minds to all the young and upcoming women. Any woman with talent who has the desire and the ability to do it should be given the chance and the opportunity.

Women are trying to stick tighter together more than ever, especially with this new wave of female singers that is coming along now. I think its flattering that they refer to me, Loretta, and Patsy as their inspiration. The fact that theyre sticking together as women and trying to gain strength in numbers is always helpful. Im all for the girls. Im there for you.

Dolly Parton