When Loretta Lynn's granddaughter Emmy Russell took the stage during CMT's Coal Miner's Daughter: A Celebration of the Life and Music of Loretta Lynn, which aired live from the Grand Ole Opry House, she reflected on the support she always received from her grandmother.
"She always stood in the corner and called me on stage. I'd sing a song — one original and one that everybody knew," Russell told the packed Opry House. "It's the first time that she's not here to look at me with her proud eyes. It's just special. Thank you for listening."
Russell was joined by another artist who knows what it's like to follow in the footsteps of one of country music's greatest voices — Lukas Nelson, the son of Lynn's dear friend Willie Nelson. Despite their close bond, Lynn and Nelson didn't record together until 2016's stirring "Lay Me Down," featured on Lynn's album Full Circle.
Lukas and Emmy's performance of the song, a gorgeous exploration of finding peace at the end of a long life, was particularly fitting for Lynn's memorial concert. The standout performance was greeted by a standing ovation.
"When they lay me down someday/ My soul will rise and fly away," Russell and Nelson sing. "This ol' world will turn around/ I'll be at peace when they lay me down."
Alan Jackson, Wynonna, the Gaither Vocal Band, Larry Strickland, The Highwomen (Brandi Carlile, Natalie Hemby, Amanda Shires and Brittney Spencer), Keith Urban, Little Big Town, Darius Rucker, Tanya Tucker, Margo Price and Jack White also performed during the broadcast, hosted by Jenna Bush Hager, which aired on Sunday, Oct. 30.
Some of Lynn's closest friends, including Sissy Spacek, Reba McEntire and Dolly Parton, appeared during the broadcast to remember the country legend. Taylor Swift also appeared, praising Lynn's "truthful, fearless honesty" as a songwriter.
CMT will broadcast two commercial-free encore airings of the memorial concert on Wed, Nov. 2 at 8 p.m. ET /7 p.m. CT and Sun, Nov. 6 at 11a.m. ET/10 a.m. CT.
