This is Fresh Air. I'm Dave Davies in for Terry Gross.

LaRetta Lynn, one of America's most beloved and influential country music stars, died yesterday at her home in Tennessee.

She was 90.

Lynn was famous for her singing, her songwriting, and her life story, told in the 1980 film Cole Miner's daughter.

The film was adapted from Lynn's memoir, which described how she grew up in poverty in Eastern Kentucky,

became a wife at age 15 and after having four children, started writing songs and performing.

She made her debut on the Grand Ole Opry in 1960.

Lynn became the first woman to be named entertainer of the year by the Country Music Association in 1972,

and in 1988 she was inducted into the country hall of fame.

Sixteen of her songs reached number one on the country charts.

In her New York Times obituary, Bill Friskick's Warren wrote, quote,

Ms. Lynn built her stardom not only on her music, but also on her image as a symbol of rural pride and determination.

Her music was rooted in the varieties of hockey-talk country and the appellation songs she had grown up singing.

Terry interviewed LaRetta Lynn in 2010.

A tribute CD had been released, which featured her songs recorded by the White Stripes, Steve Earl, Miranda Lambert, and others.

They started with LaRetta's first recording, Hunky-Talk Girl,

followed by the version on the tribute album performed by Leanne Womack.

We were happy, my heart was in the world, but now I'm a hockey-toned girl.

Go turn.

So turn that you box way up high.

And feel my glass of water cry

I've lost everything in this world

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