“A beautiful moment”: Jack White on working with Loretta Lynn
Most artists dream of working with Jack White. The former White Stripes founder made a name for himself in the 2000s, teaming up with Meg White to concoct some of the era’s most iconic and exciting entries into guitar music. From the iconic ‘Seven Nation Army’ riff to the charming ‘We’re Going to Be Friends’, the duo firged a sound that walked the line between old blues rock and the contemporary garage rock revival, capturing fans of all ages in the process.
After the breakup of the White Stripes, White maintained his claim to cool with an equally inventive solo career. Just this year, he released a surprise album titled No Name, with a release campaign just as interesting as the music it served. The record was shared with unsuspecting customers at record stores before it was eventually released as a surprise. White also accompanied the album with a series of off-kilter tour dates.
Along the way, White has also amassed an impressive list of sonic collaborators. He featured on Beyoncé’s iconic 2016 album Lemonade, linked up with Bob Dylan for a rendition of ‘Ball & Biscuit’, and even played guitar for Tyler the Creator back in 2019. He’s also become an in-demand producer, working on records far beyond the White Stripes and his own catalogue.
Throughout his lengthy and impressive career, White was particularly honoured to work with one person: country artist Loretta Lynn. In the early 2000s, he took up the producer role for her 42nd album, Van Lear Rose, in what would become White’s favourite record he had produced for another artist.
“It was such a beautiful moment,” White recalled during a conversation with Vulture, “She was open-minded and hadn’t done a record of original songs in a long period of time.” Lynn’s last release before Van Lear Rose had been 2000’s Still Country, but it didn’t contain any of her own material, comprising covers of other country icons instead. It had been a while since she had created something new, but this didn’t deter White.
The White Stripes guitarist went round to Lynn’s house, where they sifted through songs and ideas she had written long before. When he read her writings, White was immediately sold. “I wish I could have run away with them,” he enthused, “It was an amazing plethora of songs. The whole thing was just a dream.”
Despite White’s disbelief in his own abilities to bring her songs to life, the pair worked together to create a truly beautiful country record. It was perfectly produced, allowing Lynn’s powerful vocals and southern accent to shine through swirling guitar soundscapes. The duo even penned a song together – track seven, ‘Little Red Shoes’ – which proved to be a standout piece.
Over White’s gliding guitars, Lynn tells the story of her little red shoes. The country singer’s words seem to spill out of her, as if she’s right there in the room with you, telling you the story with fervour. It’s a standout track on the record and a testament to how well White and Lynn worked together despite their markedly different genre backgrounds.
Audiences and critics agreed. When the record was unveiled to the world in 2004, it was showered with praise and even took home the Grammy Award for ‘Best Country Album’. It was a demonstration of Lynn’s continued prowess in the country realm, despite being so out of practice, and White’s talent as a producer.
