We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

The heartbreaking death of country music icon Loretta Lynnwas announced on the morning of October 4.

She was 90 years old.

close-up from loretta lynn 2015 performance

Accompanying the announcement was a recent photograph of Lynn smiling and playing her guitar.

In the wake of her passing, this reflective reference seems all the more meaningful.

Lynn had no shortage of passion (and a whole trunk of heartbreak) to draw inspiration from.

loretta lynn leans on a fence in 1972 portrait, horses in background

In 1988, the singer was inducted into theCountry Music Hall of Fame.

Throughout her decades-long career, the singer wrote two other memoirs.

I had to."

loretta lynn sings at grand ole opry in 1960 (black and white)