5 Things You Never Knew About ‘Coal Miner’s Daughter’

Lauren Novak April 15, 9:00 am

COAL MINER'S DAUGHTER, US poster, Sissy Spacek, 1980, — Universal Pictures/courtesy Everett

The 1980 Loretta Lynn biopic Coal Miner’s Daughter — which airs tonight at 8pm EST on TCM as part of their “Mary Stuart Celebrates Music in the Movies” series — first hit theaters over four decades ago, but its legacy still shines just as bright today. Charting Lynn’s rise from a poor, teenage bride to one of the most famous country music artists of all time, it did more than tell a good story — it also cemented Sissy Spacek‘s place in Hollywood, earning her her first (and only!) Best Actress Oscar, and honored one of country music’s greatest voices.

But even if you’ve watched it a dozen times (and can sing every word to “You Ain’t Woman Enough”), there’s a good chance you’ve missed a few behind-the-scenes gems. In honor of both the screening and the late Loretta Lynn’s birthday (April 14), here are some interesting facts about the film:

1 Loretta Lynn handpicked Sissy Spacek to play herself

American actress Sissy Spacek (L) joins country music singer and guitarist Loretta Lynn on stage, 1980. Spacek plays Lynn in the film, 'A Coal Miner's Daughter,' based on Lynn's life story.

Fotos International/Getty Images

It wasn’t a casting director who chose Spacek to portray the country powerhouse — it was actually Lynn. Lynn had a gut feeling that Spacek could pull off the role, even if no one else was quite convinced; the studio had other names in mind, but she held her ground. The studio heads weren’t the only people who were worried: Spacek admitted that she almost turned down the role, after becoming worried that she could play it well enough, but Lynn changed her mind. Which was a good thing — because Lynn went on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and shared that Spacek was playing her in the film before she had even agreed to it!

2 Every song you hear in the film is sung by Spacek

COAL MINER'S DAUGHTER, Sissy Spacek, 1980

No dubbing. No voice doubles. Spacek sang every note herself, and she did it with Lynn’s blessing. She trained with Lynn, mimicking her phrasing, tone, and twang, until she could pass for her on record. If you close your eyes during the soundtrack, you’d be forgiven for thinking it was Lynn herself. Spacek learned to love to singing so much that she released her own country music album called Hangin’ Up My Heart in 1983, featuring Johnny Cash‘s daughter Rosanne Cash and up-and-comer Vince Gill.

> Celebrate the Life of Patsy Cline

3 Tommy Lee Jones learned to drive a bulldozer from Doolittle Lynn

COAL MINER'S DAUGHTER, Tommy Lee Jones, Sissy Spacek, 1980

Everett Collection

To prep for the role of Lynn’s husband, Jones spent time with the real-life Oliver “Doolittle” Lynn. How close was Jones’ study of the real man? When it came time to shoot scenes involving heavy equipment, Doolittle taught Jones how to handle a bulldozer the old-fashioned way.

4 It was added to the National Film Registry in 2019

COAL MINER'S DAUGHTER, Sissy Spacek, 1980

Universal/Everett Collection

Coal Miner’s Daughter is officially a piece of American cultural history. In 2019, the Library of Congress selected it for preservation in the National Film Registry, recognizing its significance both artistically and historically.

5 Meryl Streep wanted the role

Columbia/courtesy Everett Collection

It’s hard to imagine anyone else as Lynn, but Meryl Streep was in the running. At the time, she was fresh off Kramer vs. Kramer and was considered one of Hollywood’s rising stars. However, Lynn stuck to her gut feeling about Spacek and made sure she was cast instead.

Beverly D'Angelo on Patsy Cline's Music and Playing Her in 'Coal Miner's Daughter'

'I knew about those songs way and sang them way before I played Patsy Cline,' Beverly D'Angelo says. 'I came to that movie as a singer more than an actor.'

Remind