I’ve been a Loretta Lynn fan most of my life, and find the latest revelation by the AP about her age to be interesting. Those pesky documents like birth certificates and marriage applications, as well as the 1940 census can mess up a good story…
Following is an excerpt from an extensive article, posted at the May 20, 2012 edition of Yahoo.com:
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Country music legend Loretta Lynn is three years older than she has led people to believe, an age change that undermines the story she told of being married at 13 in “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” documents obtained by The Associated Press show.
Lynn’s birth certificate on file at the state Office of Vital Statistics in Frankfort, Ky., shows that Loretta Webb was born on April 14, 1932, in Johnson County, Kentucky. That makes her 80 years old, not 77. Also on file is her marriage license and two affidavits from her mother, Clara Marie Ramey, and S.W. Ward Jr., who was not related to the family, listing the same birthdate.
The records weren’t filed until 1965, which meant that Lynn needed multiple documents to prove her age at that time. Lynn’s signature appears on the document as Loretta Webb Lynn.
