Loretta Lynn and Patsi Cox. Still Woman Enough: A Memoir.
New York: Hyperion, April 2002. 384 pages.
$24.95 hardback.
From the hills of Butcher Holler,
to flashing lights and sounds of the country music stage, Loretta Lynn has
proved that she is still woman enough.
In her latest autobiography, Still
Woman Enough, Lynn reflects on what was not mentioned in her previous book
and successful movie, Coal Miner’s
Daughter. Patsi Cox also contributed
in the writing of the book.
Throughout life she has struggled
with family, music, marriage, death, but has always proven to stay close to her
roots of eastern Kentucky. Being the
first female Entertainer of the Year award winners, she opened doors for such
artists as Tanya Tucker, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, and many more.
Through the pages of Still Woman Enough, the reader is
exposed to the life not foreseen or told anywhere else. Intimate details that portray the complete
story of those once told. Stories on
Lynn’s relationship to Conway Twitty and their last moments together, as well
as her times together with Patsy Cline and Tammy Wynette. Lynn also includes interesting details of
what the movie version of Coal Miner’s
Daughter actually inaccurate of the real life version.
Family life has always been
important for Loretta Lynn. It is
mentioned several times throughout the book that her twin daughters did not
want her to talk about certain aspects of their father. However, Lynn told the stories behind the
scenes and what really went on during their marriage. It appears to be closure for her in a time
that she needs it.
Still Woman Enough ends with a new chapter in Loretta Lynn’s
life. When reading the book, one will
definitely not want to put it down. On a
personal note, this book has been passed down through several generations in a
matter of days. After I read it, I
passed it on to my own mother for her birthday present, who then passed it on
to her mother, who later in turn passed it to her mother, my great-grandmother. All of us were born and raised in Southeast
Kentucky, and with this book, several generations of every family can relate to
the life that was lived by the Coal Miner’s Daughter, Loretta Lynn.