Carly Pearce Debuts New Song Honoring Loretta Lynn at the Opry

Carly Pearce might have just released 29, but there’s more music coming from her. The Kentucky native debuted a new song, “Dear Miss Loretta,” inspired by Loretta Lynn, while performing over the weekend at the Grand Ole Opry.

“I don’t know if this is a good idea or not, but I’m going to debut a brand-new song on the Grand Ole Opry,” Pearce said from the Opry stage. “I don’t think you can sing country music, especially as a female, and grow up in the state of Kentucky, and not love Loretta Lynn. So, I wrote this song as a letter to Loretta.

“I’ve never met her, but we have a lot in common, and I think over the last year and a half, I’ve understood her songs, and the way that she told her truths, a lot more than I ever though I would,” Pearce continued. “So Loretta, hopefully I can ask you all of this in person some day, but for now, I’ll sing it to you.”

The song begins with, “Dear Miss Loretta, I ain’t ever met ya / But I’m lonely tonight, and I just betcha / You might have some wisdom to pull off that shelf / Your songs were all fun, ’til I lived them myself,”  The 30-year-old opened up about the song on social media as well.

.”I’ve always loved her, but it wasn’t until the last year that I really FELT what she’s sang about all these years— and just how much we really do have in common,” Pearce posted. “Thank you [Loretta Lynn], for making me feel like it’s okay to write my truth and be unashamed.. just like you. White heart.”

After her performance, Pearce opened up about the story behind “Dear Miss Loretta.”

“I wrote it over the summer, and I thought it was kind of just for myself,” Pearce said. “And then, just with the response to 29, it felt like it was the right time to let it out.”

Pearce also hinted that there might be more new music coming from her, sooner rather than later.

“I’m hoping that the summer will be a continuation of 29,” she added.

Pearce’s performance of “Dear Miss Loretta” begins at 43:25 in the video below.