Loretta Lynn makes surprise appearance at Country Music Hall of Fame ceremony

Loretta Lynn surprised guests at the Country Music Hall of Fame ceremony on Sunday (22Oct17) by making her first major stage appearance since she suffered a stroke in May.
The Coal Miner’s Daughter singer postponed her album, cancelled shows and stepped away from the public eye so she could recover from the stroke, and made her first public appearance at the Tennessee Motorcycle and Music Revival, which was held at her ranch, in late September.
The 85-year-old to continue to prove she was back on form by appearing onstage at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, Tennessee to honour inductee Alan Jackson, who picked Hall of Fame veteran Lynn to officially induct him during the Medallion Ceremony.
She received a standing ovation from the crowd when she took to the stage, and shared her memory of meeting Jackson for the first time, recalling that he “looked like a scared little boy” before she told him he would become one of the greatest singers in country music.
She looked at him and said, “You haven’t let me down” before adding, “I love you and I am so proud of you… You deserve to be here.”
When Jackson came to podium, he told the audience, “Loretta Lynn said I should be here. That’s all I needed to hear.”
Lynn wasn’t the only one to honour Jackson – Lee Ann Womack sung his song Here In The Real World, Alison Krauss and Emmanuel teamed up to perform his hit Someday, and Jackson’s frequent duet partner George Strait sang Remember When.
Other inductees included songwriter Don Schlitz and the late singer and guitarist Jerry Reed, who passed away in 2008.