Loretta Lynn’s Granddaughter, Lynn Massey, Dies at 59 After Health Battle

Lynn Massey, the eldest granddaughter of the late country music legend Loretta Lynn, has passed away. Massey reportedly died last week following a challenging health battle. This news was confirmed through a statement shared on Loretta Lynn’s official Instagram and Facebook pages. She was 59 years old.

“Betty Sue’s daughter Lynn Massey, Loretta’s first grandchild, passed away this week after a long and difficult health battle,” read the message, accompanied by a photo of a smiling Massey standing beside her grandmother’s vinyl records. “Our family is so grateful for the prayers and love continually shown to us.”

Massey was the daughter of Betty Sue Lynn, who died at the age of 64 in 2013 from complications of emphysema. Betty Sue was Loretta Lynn’s eldest child. Loretta married her husband, Oliver, at just 15 years old, and together they had six children: Betty, Jack, Ernest, Clara, Patsy, and Peggy. Jack passed away in 1984 at the age of 34.

Loretta Lynn had already become a mother of four by the time her country music career took off in the 1960s. Born in Butcher Hollow, Kentucky, she was the second-eldest of eight children in a coal-mining family. Loretta recorded her first song, “I’m a Honky Tonk Girl,” in 1960 and scored her first No. 1 hit in 1967. Throughout her career, Lynn became known for her songs about blue-collar life and women’s issues. Some of her most famous hits include “Don’t Come Home A’ Drinkin’ (With Lovin’ On Your Mind),” “You Ain’t Woman Enough,” “First City,” “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” “One’s On The Way,” “Rated ‘X,'” and “You Ain’t Woman Enough (To Take My Man).”

Lynn broke barriers in country music, becoming the first woman named entertainer of the year at the Country Music Association Awards in 1972 and again at the Academy of Country Music Awards in 1975. She passed away at the age of 90 in October 2022, leaving behind a storied legacy.

During her lifetime, Loretta Lynn had 26 grandchildren. One of her grandsons, Jeffrey Allen Lynn, died in 2016 at the age of 47. Another granddaughter, Emmy Russell, competed on the popular television show “American Idol” earlier this year. During her time on the show, Russell paid tribute to her grandmother by performing “Coal Miner’s Daughter” on the April 29 episode. In a taped package, Russell shared, “I love singing from the heart, and I think this is a perfect song for that. I mean, it’s my grandma’s song – can’t get much closer to the heart than your own blood. I need to be proud that I am a granddaughter of Loretta Lynn. I’m proud to be a coal miner’s great-granddaughter.” Russell made it into the top five before being eliminated.

Massey’s passing is another reminder of the significant impact Loretta Lynn and her family have had on the world of country music. The Lynn family’s resilience and dedication continue to resonate with fans around the globe, exemplifying the enduring spirit of their cherished heritage.

As the Lynn family grieves the loss of Lynn Massey, they remain grateful for the outpouring of prayers and love from fans and supporters. This shows the lasting influence and deep connections that Loretta Lynn and her family have cultivated over the years.

Source: Popculture, Associated Press, PEOPLE