Kentucky has long served as inspiration for the musicians who call it home. Its nickname, The Bluegrass State, has also provided an ample amount of wordplay for songwriters. The father of the bluegrass genre, Bill Monroe, was a proud Kentucky native. He named his band “The Blue Grass Boys” in honor of his home state and the type of blue-hued grass that sparked the state’s nickname. His longing slow waltz, “Blue Moon of Kentucky,” released in 1947, remains a classic among both bluegrass and country music genres. Almost 20 years after its release, another Kentucky born-and-bred artist launched her own music in honor of the Southern state.
In 1965, country singer Loretta Lynn released her single “Blue Kentucky Girl,” and it kickstarted a love of creating tunes representing her Bluegrass State roots. In 1970, she debuted what became her signature hit, “Coal Miner’s Daughter.” The autobiographical song was about growing up in the mining town of Van Lear, Kentucky, and being proud of her rural, humble beginnings.
