Coal miner's daughter sparkled at Kewadin (photos)

There isn't anything I can say about country music darling Loretta Lynn that hasn't already been said.

After more than 45 years in the music industry, Lynn is one case where the terms "icon" and "legend" actually apply.

And then some.

Rob Sheffield of Rolling Stone magazine wrote in 2004: "Miss Loretta has been a country legend for more than forty years, but she still sings with all the passion of the blue Kentucky girl who busted out of Butcher Hollow, the coal miner's daughter who got married at thirteen and fought her way to fame. She's always had the toughest, meanest, fiercest, warmest and sexiest voice in country music."

Earlier this year, Eric Clark of The Gazette stated: "Lynn's ability to apply snappy lyrics to serious topics makes the case for her to be considered one of the most important songwriters of her time."

For fans of country music, to see Loretta Lynn in concert is like rock fans experiencing the Beatles live, or blues fans catching a Robert Johnson performance.

It is an unprecedented, unforgettable and once in a lifetime encounter.

Friday night in the DreamMakers Theatre at Kewadin Casino, a graceful, witty and sparkly (figuratively and literally) Lynn dazzled the older audience with an hour-long set which included You're Lookin' At Country, Blue Kentucky Girl, Table For Two, You Ain't Woman Enough (To Take My Man), Fist City, One's On The Way/The Pill, Dear Uncle Sam, God Bless America Again and Your Squaw Is On The Warpath.

Opening the set with The Bellamy Brothers' hit Let Your Love Flow, she closed the evening with her synonymous hit Coal Miner's Daughter.

At 74 years old, a bit of the punch in Lynn's voice has been lost, but she still sounds as young and frisky as she did when her career took off in the mid 1960s.

With a sharp wit and a mother's firm hand, she and son Ernie, who plays acoustic guitar in her band and performed a few songs on his own, engaged in many lighthearted exchanges as she attempted to keep her rascal of a son in line.

"They made a mistake at the hospital and gave me the wrong baby," Lynn told the audience. "I've known it all along, but what could I do?"

Making the event a true family affair, twin daughters Patsy and Peggy, and granddaughter Tayla, were all given the opportunity to showcase their talents as Lynn watched with obvious pride.

The honesty and dignity evident throughout the performance was a refreshing and uplifting experience.

I count myself truly lucky to have been in attendance.

Adam Wright, nephew of Alan Jackson, and wife Shannon opened the evening with a beautiful folk country set that highlighted the duo's superb harmonies and skillful song writing.

Garnering rave reviews and holding the honour of gracing the Grand Ole Opry stage more than 20 times, The Wrights are primed to become a household name within the genre.