By Alannah Moore
This week at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum was one of celebrating the career of the one and only, Patty Loveless. On August 22nd, the singer was welcomed by fans and colleagues alike as her exhibit was previewed ahead of its grand opening on August 23rd.
On Saturday, August 26th, Patty sat down with Hall of Fame senior writer-editor, Michael McCall, to reflect on her decades long career in a “sold out” CMA Theater. The singer reminisced on her early career and shared memories of her childhood and journey to stardom.
Upon traveling back to those early years, Patty shared memories of working with The Wilburn Brothers, meeting Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner, meeting Vince Gill for the first time, and even being arrested! Yes, arrested!
“Speakeasies were against the law. It was a huge club and always full. We were the band. I saw so many walks of life… the club was raided one time and I ended up being arrested. They arrested me for aiding and abetting because I was singing in a band. Are you kidding me??”, the singer joked while reflecting on playing speakeasies in North Carolina in the late 70’s.
She also reminisced on family and growing up without very much money.
“Daddy would give us lunch money for the week, and it was hard. So, what I would do… There was this little ole store that a lot of teenagers at the high school would go to. It was just right across the road where the buses come through, and during lunch I would pop over to that store and spend my lunch money in the jukebox. Well, I missed out on eating lunch. So, daddy found out about it, and he goes, “Little girl, now I don’t give you that money to spend on playing records, that money is to feed you.” And I wanted to say, “But, daddy, the music’s feeding me!””
To open the evening, Patty performed her hit, “You Don’t Even Know Who I Am”. She then serenaded the audience with, “Don’t Toss Us Away”, “Too Many Memories”, and closed her performance with an upbeat acoustic version of “Blame It On Your Heart”, which had the audience up on their feet and singing along.
The energy in the room was evident of the love and respect Patty Loveless has amongst country music fans. Her exhibit in the Country Music Hall of Fame is not one to be missed.
Congratulations to Kentucky native, Patty Loveless, on her well-deserved recognition for the impact she has made on country music!
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