Loretta Lynn’s family shared the link to a petition in an effort to rename Paintsville State Park in honors of the late country music legend, who was born near the Kentucky park's location.
“Our family hopes you’ll sign this petition to request the State of Kentucky rename this state park after Loretta,” the family said via Lynn’s Twitter account. “She would LOVE this so much. Kentucky, and especially her home area were always in her heart. Thank you to the fans who started this; we continue to be amazed by the outpouring of love!”
So far, the petition to rename the Paintsville Lake State Park — located at 1551 KY 2275 in Staffordsville, Kentucky — as the “Loretta Lynn State Park” has garnered more than 12,300 signatures as of publication time on Tuesday (November 29). The goal is to reach 15,000 signatures, the Change.org page shows.
Peggy Lynn Marchetti, Lynn’s daughter, also shared information about the effort to name the park in honor of her mother. She noted that the park is located near where her parents are from and where they got married. Marchetti said “we need 25,000 signatures so we can take it to the Kentucky governor Andy Beshear asking for their consideration,” and said of the initiative to rename the park: “I can’t even tell you how much she [Lynn] would love that!”
Lynn’s family confirmed the morning of October 4 that the “Coal Miner’s Daughter” trailblazer passed away peacefully in her sleep at her ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee. She was 90. The family’s heartbreaking announcement prompted an outpouring of tributes from fans and the country music industry, remembering her as “an absolute icon” and “a beautiful soul.”
Lynn delivered her own remarks in a pre-recorded message that played at the star-studded Coal Miner’s Daughter: A Celebration Of The Life & Music Of Loretta Lynn memorial service. She said in her message, in part: “To my friends, thank you for giving me such a great life. I have never taken it or you for granted. …I've traveled all over the world, but I never got to see much, that is, except for you – my fans, my friends. I want you to know that I saw and remember every one of you. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.”