Loretta Lynn was sitting around rehearsing one day when the words "Well, I was born a coal miner’s daughter" came to her. "And I went on from there. I made up the melody at the same time, line by line, like I always do," she said. Lynn had written strong verses for herself but never anything quite as directly personal before. This Number One country hit concerning hardscrabble life in Kentucky mining country would go on to share its title with a book and a film about the singer; her signature tune and life story, all wrapped tight in one prideful song.