Country music legend Loretta Lynn dies

Beloved singer and songwriter Loretta Lynn has died at her home in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee earlier today,

In a statement provided to the Associated Press, Lynn's family said "Our precious mom, Loretta Lynn, passed away peacefully this morning, October 4, in her sleep at home in her beloved ranch in Hurricane Mills."

As a songwriter, she crafted a persona of a defiantly tough woman, a contrast to the stereotypical image of most female country singers.

Her bestselling 1976 autobiography, Coal Miner's Daughter, was made into an Academy Award-winning film in 1980.

Her biggest hits came in the 1960s and '70s, including "Coal Miner’s Daughter," "You Ain’t Woman Enough," "The Pill," "Don't Come Home a Drinkin' (With Lovin' on Your Mind)," "Rated X" and "You're Looking at Country."

She was known for appearing in floor-length, wide gowns with elaborate embroidery or rhinestones, many created by her longtime personal assistant and designer Tim Cobb.

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