Loretta Lynn, the renowned singer-songwriter whose stories of heartbreak and poverty are among the most celebrated in country music history, has passed away. She rose from a small Kentucky coal-mining community to national stardom. She was 90 years old. 

There are a number of winners of the Country Music Hall of Fame, but these 5 represent the best from an incredibly illustrious career.

Also read: Loretta Lynn age, family and net worth

1. Van Lear Rose (2004) 

Listeners were shocked when Lynn, who had been musically silent for 12 years, returned in 2000 with Still Country. However, Van Lear Rose, Lynn’s critically acclaimed, 40-minute follow-up album, which was created with Jack White’s production, was nothing compared to it. It became the most successful crossover album of Lynn’s career after reaching No. 2 on the country charts and No. 24 on the Billboard 200 all-genre chart. One of the best-ever Lynn albums is the result of the blending of Lynn and White’s musical sensibilities on Van Lear Rose (White performs with Lynn throughout, even adding vocals on one track). It received five Grammy nominations and took home the prizes for Best Country Album and Best Country Collaboration with Vocals—the latter for the song Portland, Oregon—from those nominations.

2. Coal Miner’s Daughter (1971)

Despite only reaching No. 4 on the Billboard Country Albums chart, Coal Miner’s Daughter is one of Lynn’s best-known and most adored albums. Although Lynn has many well-known songs under her belt, the title track from this gold-certified album quickly rose to the top and even inspired the names of a book and movie about her life. One of Lynn’s most autobiographical albums, Coal Miner’s Daughter features the title track as well as covers of Hello Darlin by Conway Twitty and Less of Me by Glen Campbell.

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3. Don’t Come Home A Drinkin’ (With Lovin’ On Your Mind) (1967)

Loretta Lynn, who was beginning to exercise creative control over the song selection process with this recording, decided to include three songs that she wrote or co-wrote in addition to three other hits from the era. When Don’t Come Home A Drinkin’ was released in 1967, it peaked at #1 on the country charts and at #80 on the pop charts. It was co-written by Loretta’s sister Peggy Sue, a well-known country singer.

4. Fist City (1968)

Lynn is credited as either the author or co-author of five of Fist City’s songs. As is frequently the case, Lynn wrote the entire album’s title track, which is both the best and most crucial song. If you don’t want to go to fist city, you better avoid my town, sings Lynn in the song that reached No. 1 at the top of the charts, Fist City. Other noteworthy songs co-written by Lynn include What Kind of Girl and Somebody’s Back in Town (Do You Think I Am). A No. 1 album was Fist City.

Also Read| Loretta Lynn, country music star, dies at 90

5. Full Circle (2016)

Even after a long career filled with hit record after hit record, one of Lynn’s most recent albums, Full Circle from 2016, is still among her best. Full Circle lives up to its name and was created by her daughter Patsy Lynn Russell and Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash’s son John Carter Cash. It includes both noteworthy original songs and covers of well-known songs, just like the other albums Lynn has put out throughout her career. On Full Circle, Lynn performs a variety of styles, including Appalachian folk songs and duets with Willie Nelson and Elvis Costello. The album reached No. 1 and received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Country Album.