In 2004 a 72 year old country legend and a 28 year old rock star made an album that no one saw coming but everyone needed Loretta Lynn had not seen the top of the country chart in 27 years Her last album to reach No 2 was I Remember Patsy in 1977 Then Jack White stepped in and produced Van Lear Rose an album that debuted at No 2 on the country chart and No 24 on the Billboard 200
Jack White did not ask Loretta to sound younger He encouraged her to return to what made her special writing plainly about her own life The result was a raw edge that made her sound unmistakably herself
It was not about being relevant again it was about being heard the way she always should have been
The Grammys cemented the partnership Van Lear Rose won Best Country Album and the duo won for Portland Oregon At 72 Loretta Lynn did not need a young rock star to make her relevant He simply helped a new generation hear what had been there all along a fearless songwriter with a voice that could be tough funny tender and plain