Loretta Lynn Tribute Show Honors the Queen of Country Music
Sasha Bush
The Ashland Beacon
In a celebration of country music royalty, Ashland’s iconic Paramount Arts Center is set to host a spectacular tribute show dedicated to the legendary queen of country music, Loretta Lynn on January 27. This musical extravaganza promises to be an evening of nostalgia and heartfelt renditions as Kentucky native, Emily Portman and Loretta Lynn’s original members of her band “The Coalminers,” come together to pay homage to the queen of country.
The tribute show, aptly named 'Always Loretta,' will showcase Portman’s uncanny Loretta-like voice singing a full lineup of some of Loretta’s biggest hits. From chart-topping classics to soul-stirring ballads, the audience can expect an immersive experience that captures the essence of Loretta Lynn’s illustrious career. With so many people out in the world doing tribute shows for Loretta Lynn, this is the only one you will find that has the blessing of the family of Loretta Lynn.
From a very young age, Portman was often told that she sounded a lot like country music legend, Loretta Lynn. Over the years, Portman has worked tirelessly to emulate Loretta Lynn’s vocal style as well as her on-stage mannerisms. In 2004, Portman entered a “Sing Like…” contest that was held at the Kentucky Opry and won $1000 for her portrayal of Loretta Lynn. Two short years later, Portman was discovered by Michael Twitty (eldest son of the great Conway Twitty) who reached out to Portman to offer her the casting role of portraying Loretta Lynn in the nationally touring musical, “Its Only Make Believe.”
This was a truly defining point in Portman’s career that would lead her to mingle with some of the greatest names in country music such as the late George Jones, Archie Campbell, Vern Gosdin, Toby Keith, Chris Cagle, and even Loretta Lynn herself. After meeting Loretta Lynn, the two formed a very close friendship.
After the unfortunate passing of Loretta Lynn back in 2022, Portman connected with the band members of Loretta Lynn’s backup band, “The Coalminers.” Dave Thornhill- lead guitarist and bandleader, Robert “Bob” Hempker- steel guitarist, Dennis Digby- bass guitarist, Monty Parkey- piano/keyboard player, Eric Kaberle- drummer and vocalist Jean Anne decided to join talents with Portman and form the Always Loretta Tribute show.
We were fortunate to have the opportunity to interview David Thornhill and Emily Portman for this article. Thornhill shared that he had first seen Loretta in a movie in 1965 and recalled looking over at his wife and saying, “If I ever get to play with any country music star, that’s the one I want to play for.” A few short years later Thornhill was doing just that. He shared that had been part of Loretta Lynn’s band since 1969. “I was playing in a band near Columbus, Ohio at a country music park called the Frontier Ranch. The band I was in would play backup to any singer who would take the stage at the Frontier Ranch. In 1967, Loretta came in without a band and we played her music for her on that show. After the show, she said that she was really impressed and said that if she could ever afford a band that we were the band that she liked to have.” Two years later, Loretta Lynn hired that band. Little did they know that they would spend the next 30 years playing together.
One of Thornhill's most prominent memories of his days on tour with Loretta Lynn took place in Inez, Kentucky. “There was this toll bridge that cost 10 cents to cross, and we needed to cross over with our tour bus. Well at the start of the bridge, there was a sign that said ten-ton limit. Well… Loretta said, ‘I’m not crossing that bridge in this bus!’ and she asked me to get out and walk across the bridge with her. By the time we had reached the midway point of the bridge, here came a cement truck that had to weigh about 40 tons. It passed us up and Loretta looked at me and said, ‘Oh please bridge don’t fall!’ Of course, we made it across just fine and the bus followed.”
Portman recalled, “My first impression of Loretta was that she was very down to earth. She was someone that I could really relate to and really talk to. I first met her when I was 22, and she never gave me the impression that I had to prove myself to her. You know a lot of people go and meet a celebrity and get nervous or anxious because you worry about what you might say or do. I never felt that when I was around Loretta. She just had a way of making you feel comfortable enough to just be yourself whenever you were around her. I always felt so at ease. She didn’t act like she was any better than me or anyone else.”
For Portman, having the opportunity to portray someone like Loretta Lynn is simply a dream come true, and being able to work with The Coalminers makes that dream an even bigger reality. “I love what I do. Being able to get on stage and sort of walk in the shoes of Loretta is one of the best things to happen to me in my life. I’ve always felt like it was a natural gift that God has given me. I love to sing. I never dreamed that my career would take me this far. Being able to be a part of this show is just really special to me,” stated Portman.
With the Paramount Arts Center’s touch of old-world elegant charm, Portman’s uncanny vocal likeness to Loretta Lynn, and the musical talents of the Coalminers this show is sure to be an evening filled with toe-tapping tunes, nostalgia, and heartfelt lyrics that any fan of the late Loretta Lynn is sure to enjoy. Fans of Loretta Lynn will have the opportunity to relive the magic of her music and share the experience with fellow enthusiasts as The Always Loretta Tribute show aims to create a moment of connection, allowing both long-time enthusiasts and new listeners to appreciate the enduring legacy of this iconic artist. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the Paramount Arts Center’s box office or by visiting their website at paramountartscenter.com.
