Loretta Lynn: ‘Willie Ain’t Dead Yet and Neither Am I’
Loretta Lynn has postponed the release of her forthcoming album Wouldn’t It Be Great, citing the need to continue recovering from a May stroke that left her hospitalized. The album, originally scheduled for release on August 18th, will be moved to 2018. Additionally, the rest of Lynn’s 2017 tour dates have been canceled.
“My main focus now is making a full recovery so that I can get back to putting all of me into what I love, sharing my music with all of you,” said Lynn in a statement. “I now want to wait to release [Wouldn’t It Be Great] next year because this record is so special for me. It deserves me at my best and I can’t wait to share it. I want to thank everyone for hanging in there with me. I am getting stronger every day and can’t wait to get back out there with all of you. I’m just letting everybody know that Willie ain’t dead yet and neither am I, and I can’t wait to see all of you on the road!”
The follow-up to Lynn’s acclaimed 2016 album Full Circle, Wouldn’t It Be Great was produced by John Carter Cash with Lynn’s daughter Patsy Lynn Russell and collects more songs written by Lynn over the years, including updated versions of her classics “Coal Miner’s Daughter” and “Don’t Come Home A-Drinkin’.” Additionally, the album features a new recording of “God Makes No Mistakes,” which Lynn previously cut for the 2004 collaboration with Jack White, Van Lear Rose.
In mid-April, Lynn celebrated her 85th birthday with a pair of sold-out shows at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. Her stroke occurred on May 5th, forcing her to cancel shows through spring and summer.