Loretta Lynn’s Husband Dies At Age 69

O.V. “Mooney” Lynn, who coaxed his wife, Loretta, onto the stage for the first time and watched as the coal miner’s daughter rose to country music stardom, has died at 69.

The hard-drinking Lynn, who died at home Thursday, had been hospitalized repeatedly since 1993 because of heart failure and diabetes. His feet were amputated in recent years.

Lynn was portrayed by Tommy Lee Jones in the 1980 movie “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” based on his wife’s autobiography.

Lynn had been a coal miner and moonshine runner (hence the nickname “Mooney”) in Kentucky before he married Loretta in 1948 when she was just 13.

Besides his wife, Lynn is survived by five children, 15 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.