To many fans, the late, great Loretta Lynn is still the queen of country music. Few artists in the genre—men or women—were as authentic in their songwriting at Lynn. Telling her life story through her songs took her to the top of the country singles chart 24 times. The Coal Miner’s Daughter also released 11 No. 1 albums. More importantly, she inspired generations of artists and fans alike.
While Lynn has a catalog of hits today, that wasn’t the case in the early ’60s. She released her debut single, “I’m a Honky Tonk Girl” in 1960. The self-released track missed the top 10 by four slots. Over the next few years, she released a handful of top 10 singles. Finally, in 1966, she landed her first No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart with “Don’t Come Home a-Drinkin’ (With Lovin’ on Your Mind),” the sole single and title track from her ninth studio album. Watch her perform the hit alongside Bill Monroe during a TV appearance below.
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[RELATED: 3 Eternal Songs by Loretta Lynn that Cement Her Legacy as the Queen of Country]
Loretta Lynn Lands a Hit with a Song About Her Husband
Loretta Lynn and her husband, Oliver “Doolittle” Lynn, had a loving but tumultuous relationship. They tied the knot in 1948 and stayed married until his death in 1996. Loretta was open about his drinking and infidelity in the songs she wrote about him. For instance, “You Ain’t Woman Enough (To Take My Man)” and “Fist City” are among her signature songs. They’re also songs in which she lyrically confronts Doolittle’s many mistresses and flings.
However, “Don’t Come Home a-Drinkin’” isn’t about Doolittle’s alcohol consumption. Instead, Lynn’s sister Peggy Sue came to her with the idea for the song and they finished it together, according to Songfacts. “I looked at what she had on paper and I kind of knew what she was trying to say. It’s like when you there’s twins, the old saying is, ‘What one can’t think of, the other can,’” Lynn explained.
This was more than just Loretta Lynn’s first No. 1 single. It was also the seventh single by a solo female vocalist to reach the No. 1 position. Kitty Wells and Patsy Cline each had two chart-toppers and Connie Smith and Goldie Hill each notched one before this song hit the top. This was also the first single written by a female vocalist to go to No. 1.
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