Martina McBride Joins Loretta Lynn To Sing “You Ain’t Woman Enough” In 1995

Martina McBride Pays Tribute to her Inspiration, Loretta Lynn

Martina McBride, a well-known country music artist, recently paid tribute to Loretta Lynn on the anniversary of her passing by sharing a video of their 1995 duet performance, “You Ain’t Woman Enough.” The video was from the first filming of a 7-week television series called Loretta Lynn & Friends, broadcast on The Nashville Network.

During the video, Loretta can be seen swaying and smiling, approving of the “Independence Day” singer’s introduction to the song. Their soprano vocals were highly appreciated by the audience, resulting in a round of applause. After the performance, the two shared a warm hug, which began McBride’s more profound admiration for the “Queen of Country.” Martina continued to record and perform the song in honor of Loretta for many years.

The well-known song “You Ain’t Woman Enough” was based on one of “The Coal Miner’s Daughter’s” real-life backstage encounters. A fan warned her that someone was trying to steal Lynn’s husband. After the conversation, she returned to her dressing room and wrote the infamous song.

If the fan’s story were true, it would be a good guess that the woman Lynn wrote about would eventually hear her song as it climbed to 2nd on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. Since then, the song has been covered by over 76 artists from various genres and genders worldwide.

Martina McBride Inducted into the Grand Ole Opry by Loretta Lynn

Crossing paths again in 1995, Martina was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry by her friend and mentor, Loretta Lynn. Later, in an interview with Opry, McBride shared,

“Whenever I do the Opry it still feels like the first time,” she says. “I still get nervous. The Opry’s going to be here for hundreds of years, and I’m just proud my name is on that list. It’s a highlight of my life.”

The First Anniversary of Loretta Lynn’s Passing

In 2017, McBride and Lynn reunited on Lynn’s 85th birthday at Nashville’s Ryman, where they performed their duet, “You Ain’t Woman Enough,” for the first time in 28 years.

Only a few years later, McBride and the country music industry would be heartbroken to learn of “The First Lady of Country Music’s” death. On October 22, 2023, artists and fans gathered across the globe to celebrate the 1st anniversary of  Loretta Lynn’s passing and pay homage to her trailblazing contributions to country music. With over 86 singles released, beginning in 1960 with “I’m a Honky Tonk Girl,” Lynn left an indelible mark on the world of country.

McBride shared her sentiments with Today,

“She was like our northern light, like our northern star. She was always there, always true, always Loretta,” McBride said. “And I feel like part of her legacy is us carrying that on and being a mentor and a friend to any new artists coming up, any new, especially female artists coming up. She was always so supportive, and so kind and so available to all of us.”

“You never believe that you’re going to grow up and become friends with your idol and your mentor,” she said. “So, it was really special, our relationship, and I miss her.”

For the full 1995 episode of “Loretta Lynn & Friends,” watch the video below. We’d love it if you would share your comments with us.