Celebrate the Heart of Country, Americana, and Roots Music!

Drop Us A Line, Y'all

Y'all interested in advertising, partnering up, contributing stories, joining our team, or just got a question? Well, don't be shy, drop us a line!

Follow Us

Loretta Lynn’s Children: Who are they and What Happened to Them?

Loretta Lynn's Children: Who are they and What Happened to Them?
by
  • Arden is a Senior Country Music Journalist for Country Thang Daily, specializing in classic hits and contemporary chart-toppers.
  • Prior to joining Country Thang Daily, Arden wrote for Billboard and People magazine, covering country music legends and emerging artists.
  • Arden holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Tennessee, with a minor in Music Studies.

Loretta Lynn’s children have definitely had their own share of the limelight as they embraced their mother’s fame and superstardom as one of the biggest country music icons of her time. But as they grew up, they proved to be more than just their last name. Betty, Cissie, Ernest, and the twins Peggy and Patsy all carved their own paths as singers and songwriters, while Jack became a successful rancher. 

RELATED: Married to the Bottle: Loretta Lynn and Husband Oliver Lynn Love Story

If you wanna learn more about Loretta Lynn‘s six amazing kids and where they are now, just keep on scrolling. 

Betty Sue Lynn 

When Betty Sue arrived on November 26, 1948, in Washington, Loretta was just 16 and fresh from tying the knot with her husband, Doolittle “Mooney” Lynn. She was the first to make Loretta a mom, and they grew together as best friends. And just like her mom, Betty Sue was a gifted songwriter. She wrote songs under the name Tracy Lee, and a few of her songwriting credits include “Wine, Women and Song,” “Before I’m Over You,” and “The Home You’re Tearin’ Down.”

Unfortunately, Betty Sue’s life was cut short after suffering from complications from emphysema. She dies on July 29, 2013, at the age of 64. She was survived by her two daughters, Lynn Markworth and Audrey Dyer. 

Jack Benny Lynn 

Jack Benny Lynn - Loretta Lynn's Kids

RELATED: The Untimely Deaths of Loretta Lynn’s Kids

A spitting image of Doolittle with his blonde hair and blue eyes, Jack Benny was born on December 7, 1949. He was the couple’s second child and first son together. Unlike Loretta and Betty Sue, Jack never pursued a career in music. Instead, he dedicated his time working in the family ranch and grew up to become a talented blacksmith and a competent horse trainer, and horseback rider. 

Shockingly, he died on July 5, 1984, after he struck his head and drowned three miles from his home in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee. According to reports, he was trying to ford the Duck River on his horse when the accident happened. Loretta was receiving care from exhaustion during her road tour when Jack died, and she was only informed of her son’s death the next day. Jack was survived by his second wife, Barbara, and their daughter. He also had two daughters from his previous marriage with his high school sweetheart Pat.

Clara Marie Lynn 

RELATED: Top 10 Loretta Lynn Songs Of All Time

Three years later, on April 7, 1952, Loretta and Doolittle welcomed their third child named Clara Marie, who went by her nickname ‘Cissie.’ Just like her mom and older sister, Cissie shared the same passion for music and followed their footprints. 

She enjoyed a successful musical career and even had the chance to release two albums that were produced by Loretta Lynn herself. The first one was a remake collection of Loretta’s old songs, and the second was original songs written by her husband, John Beams. But aside from music, she also pursued entrepreneurship. In 2006, she opened a country store and music barn just across the famed Loretta Lynn’s ranch, where she sells autographed photos and albums of country music’s biggest stars as well as handmade goods from Tennessee. 

Ernest Ray Lynn 

The sole surviving son of Loretta Lynn, Ernest Ray, came two years after Cissie on May 27, 1954. And he too, joined the family business of singing and performing. Throughout the years, he opened shows for Loretta, and the mother-son also performed together a lot of times. But although he had a lot of music appearances, Ernest lived most of his life away from the limelight. 

Ernest was first married to Cindy Plemons, with whom he had a beautiful daughter named Tayla Lynn. Amongst Loretta’s grandkids, Tayla is the most popular as she is also a country music artist who loves to cover her grandmother’s songs on tour. Tayla’s mom, Cindy, died in 2018. As of recent updates, Ernest just renewed his vows with his second wife, Crystal Lynn in 2020, and his mother Loretta was there to witness it and celebrate with them. 

Peggy and Patsy Lynn 

After her fourth pregnancy with Ernest, Loretta didn’t think she would get pregnant again. But it seemed like life had other plans for her, and on August 6, 1964, she welcomed twin girls. She named them Peggy after her sister Peggy Sue and Patsy after her late friend and also fellow singer Patsy Cline. Loretta confessed that, at first, she felt apprehensive about having two more kids, especially that she was just a rising star in Nashville at that time. She feared that her career would be interrupted or worse, ended. But later on, she realized how much of a blessing the twins were. Not only that, but she also found motherhood to be a lot easier with her financial success. 

Just like their mom and their other siblings, the twins grew up sharing the same love for music. They became known as a dynamic duo back in the late ’90s, performing together in local bars and restaurants. And it was during one of their gigs that they were spotted by an executive from Reprise Records. 

Up until now, the twins or also known as The Lynns, are most popularly known for their hit song “Woman to Woman,” released in 1997. The duo also received nominations for Vocal Duo of the Year at the 1998 and 1999 CMA Awards. Aside from music, the twins also explored acting and have been featured in Walker, Texas Ranger, and Fire Down Below

Loretta Lynn’s children have definitely made her proud of their success. 

Latest Stories

Keith Urban holds a CMA award on stage, showing the same trophies he often ships home so his mom can keep a room full of them.

Keith Urban Gives Away Almost Every Award He Wins So One Person Can Keep a Room Full of Them

Keith Urban doesn’t just pick up awards, he packs them up and ships them off faster than most country stars can find a shelf. For a guy who’s racked up ...

Toby Keith performs with his American flag guitar, the same patriotic spirit that fueled his song "Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue."

The Untold Truth Behind Toby Keith’s “Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue (The Angry American)”

When Toby Keith sat down with a fantasy football stat sheet and scribbled out “Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue”, he didn’t just write a song. He lit a ...

Toby Keith plays guitar with an American flag design, capturing the patriotic vibe perfect for a Fourth of July country playlist.

35 Patriotic Country Songs to Turn Your Backyard Into the Ultimate 4th of July Party

Nothing says freedom like blasting a rowdy country playlist while you torch a few burgers, keep the cooler stocked, and watch your drunk uncle light fireworks way too close to ...

Keith Urban sits next to Nicole Kidman looking serious, a moment that echoes him shutting down talk about her steamy movie scenes.

Keith Urban Shuts Down Interview When Nicole Kidman’s Scenes With Younger Men Are Mentioned

Some lines just ain’t worth crossing, especially when you’re asking Keith Urban about Nicole Kidman and Zac Efron rolling around on screen. This week, the whole thing went sideways when ...

Tim McGraw sits outdoors with Faith Hill, leaning on a cane, sparking questions about his health but showing their strong bond.

Tim McGraw Using a Cane With Faith Hill Beside Him Raises Questions About His Health

Sometimes country music’s strongest cowboys need a little help standing tall, and Tim McGraw’s latest photo has folks asking how much longer he can keep carrying that torch. It’s not ...

Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood smile together at an event, standing united amid the ongoing sexual assault lawsuit drama.

Garth Brooks’ Marriage With Trisha Yearwood Reportedly Unshaken by Sexual Assault Lawsuit

Nothing tests a marriage like ugly headlines, but Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood are riding out this storm shoulder to shoulder. Since last October, Garth Brooks has been staring down ...

Country legend George Jones plays guitar under spotlight, embodying the raw heartbreak behind these 12 most depressing country songs.

These 12 Depressing Country Songs Will Have You Sobbing and Hitting Repeat All Night

Straight from the depths of Reddit’s country corner, here’s a list built by real fans who know heartbreak better than any Nashville hit machine ever could. These songs weren’t picked ...

Jimmy Swaggart preaching passionately in an undated photo, remembered now after his death at 90 from a heart attack.

Televangelist Jimmy Swaggart Dies at 90 Just Weeks After Suffering a Massive Heart Attack

There’s a hush across Pentecostal churches this week as believers remember Jimmy Swaggart, the firebrand evangelist, gospel singer, and TV preacher who spent decades filling stadiums, living rooms, and airwaves ...

Gavin Adcock onstage raising a whiskey bottle while blasting Beyoncé’s ‘Cowboy Carter’ as “not real country music.”

Viral Country Star Gavin Adcock Slams Beyoncé’s ‘Cowboy Carter’ Says ‘That S— Ain’t Country Music’

Some headlines feel like a parody of the country music circus these days, and this is one of them. Gavin Adcock, the beer-slinging viral star who built half his brand ...

George Strait beams onstage at Patriots Stadium, guitar in hand, as he brings Texas charm with “All My Ex’s Live in Texas.”

George Strait Brings Lone Star Magic to Patriots Stadium With “All My Ex’s Live in Texas”

Some legends don’t need confetti cannons or stadium-shaking pyros. They just need a guitar, a baritone voice, and a song about every ex they ever outran in a pickup truck. ...