Loretta Lynn Was Once Inspired To Write a Song After the Birth Control Pill Was Introduced in 1960

In 1975, Loretta Lynn released her most controversial song, “The Pill”, after the birth control pill was introduced in 1960. Today is the 65th anniversary of the U.S. approval of the birth control pill on May 9, so it’s only right that we take a look back at one of the most enduring songs on the subject.

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The lyrics follow the story of a woman frustrated and angry that her husband gets her pregnant year after year. When she gets the pill, she can finally make her own reproductive choices and take control of her life.

As with many of the songs Loretta Lynn co-wrote or wrote herself, there were elements of her personal life woven into the lyrics. Lynn had six children, with four born before she was 18. She often avoided sociopolitical statements in her music, but the fact that she felt so strongly about birth control hinted at some (alleged) autobiographical elements.

Additionally, the song’s popularity and strong stance helped women learn that birth control was an option. Lynn was often lauded for this song at the same time that it was banned from country radio.

The Enduring Legacy of Loretta Lynn’s “The Pill” and Some Listeners’ Rush to Ostracize Divisive Topics

“I had four kids before I was 18,” Loretta Lynn once told TIME magazine in 1975. “If I had had the pill, I would’ve been popping it like popcorn.”

“The Pill” caused a cultural divide in country music at the time. Country music has been known for conservative views for a long time, even if artists don’t make that clear in their music every time. But how often do we hear artists thanking God when they win at country music award shows? Christianity and conservatism are still at the heart of the genre.

So when Loretta Lynn, beloved queen of country, released a song about a woman’s right to bodily autonomy and sexual freedom, it caused a bit of a stir. To this day, country radio stations still won’t play the song often.

However, pop radio took an interest in “The Pill” after it was released. It became Lynn’s biggest crossover hit and inspired younger generations of women in country music to tell potentially divisive stories. One notable example is The Chicks, who publicly criticized the war in Iraq and were blacklisted in the industry.

Artists who speak against the majority in country music run the risk of being blacklisted, shunned, or openly mocked. The genre has its steadfast beliefs, and anything challenging is sometimes labeled as “un-American.”

However, Loretta Lynn dared to challenge the status quo with “The Pill”. It’s just that she did it at the perfect time in her career. Country music wouldn’t even think of ostracizing her then. It was a different time overall; no rampant social media, no cancel culture. Yes, the song was banned on the radio. But Loretta Lynn endured.

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