London: Loretta Lynn is taking her life story to Broadway.
The 80-year-old, Country Music Hall of Fame member made the surprise announcement during a Grand Ole Opry Country Classics show at the Ryman Auditorium.
“There's a little girl backstage that's going to do the play of ‘Coal Miner's Daughter' on Broadway, and I think she can sing her...self to death,” said Lynn.
Lynn has tapped actress and singer Zooey Deschanel to portray her on stage in the musical of “Coal Miner's Daughter.” She brought out Deschanel to sing the title tune.
Lynn did the same thing nearly 30 years ago to reveal that Sissy Spacek would play her in the movie version.
“I don't know if ya'll remember when Sissy Spacek was with me. I brought her out here with me. She about fainted. We both fainted,” Lynn said with a laugh. “She went on to do the ‘Coal Miner's Daughter,' and you know from there.”
Spacek won an Oscar for the role.
The 32-year-old Deschanel is currently the lead on the Fox comedy “New Girl.” She has starred in such films as “Elf,” “(500) Days of Summer” and “Your Highness.” She is also a Grammy-nominated singer and has released three albums as part of the folk-rock duo She & Him.
“This is a great honor for me. This is my hero,” said Deschanel, motioning to Lynn.
“Coal Miner's Daughter” was a No. 1 hit song for Lynn in 1970 that she wrote about growing up as one of eight children in rural Kentucky.
It became the title of her 1976 autobiography and the basis for the 1980 movie, which traced her challenging life from childhood to stardom. Lynn became the first woman to be named Entertainer of the Year by the Country Music Association in 1972.
The Broadway production is still in the early stages. But the producers are Fox Theatricals and Scott Sanders Productions. They have been behind such Broadway hits as “Legally Blonde,” “The Color Purple,” and “Thoroughly Modern Millie.”
At the end of the duet, Lynn gave Deschanel another endorsement.
She told the crowd: “Don't forget her name. Her name is Zooey.” And with that, another coal miner's daughter was born.
The 80-year-old, Country Music Hall of Fame member made the surprise announcement during a Grand Ole Opry Country Classics show at the Ryman Auditorium.
“There's a little girl backstage that's going to do the play of ‘Coal Miner's Daughter' on Broadway, and I think she can sing her...self to death,” said Lynn.
Lynn has tapped actress and singer Zooey Deschanel to portray her on stage in the musical of “Coal Miner's Daughter.” She brought out Deschanel to sing the title tune.
Lynn did the same thing nearly 30 years ago to reveal that Sissy Spacek would play her in the movie version.
“I don't know if ya'll remember when Sissy Spacek was with me. I brought her out here with me. She about fainted. We both fainted,” Lynn said with a laugh. “She went on to do the ‘Coal Miner's Daughter,' and you know from there.”
Spacek won an Oscar for the role.
The 32-year-old Deschanel is currently the lead on the Fox comedy “New Girl.” She has starred in such films as “Elf,” “(500) Days of Summer” and “Your Highness.” She is also a Grammy-nominated singer and has released three albums as part of the folk-rock duo She & Him.
“This is a great honor for me. This is my hero,” said Deschanel, motioning to Lynn.
“Coal Miner's Daughter” was a No. 1 hit song for Lynn in 1970 that she wrote about growing up as one of eight children in rural Kentucky.
It became the title of her 1976 autobiography and the basis for the 1980 movie, which traced her challenging life from childhood to stardom. Lynn became the first woman to be named Entertainer of the Year by the Country Music Association in 1972.
The Broadway production is still in the early stages. But the producers are Fox Theatricals and Scott Sanders Productions. They have been behind such Broadway hits as “Legally Blonde,” “The Color Purple,” and “Thoroughly Modern Millie.”
At the end of the duet, Lynn gave Deschanel another endorsement.
She told the crowd: “Don't forget her name. Her name is Zooey.” And with that, another coal miner's daughter was born.
