Loretta Lynn’s legacy was honored in one of the most moving ways imaginable when her granddaughter, Emmy Russell, joined Willie Nelson’s son, Lukas Nelson, to perform the only duet Loretta and Willie ever recorded together.
The moment took place during Loretta Lynn’s public memorial service at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville on October 30, 2022 — a fitting setting for a woman whose voice helped define country music. Broadcast live by CMT, the service allowed fans around the world to witness a tribute that felt deeply personal and profoundly symbolic.
The Only Song Loretta Lynn and Willie Nelson Ever Shared
Despite a friendship that spanned decades, Loretta Lynn and Willie Nelson recorded just one duet: “Lay Me Down,” released in 2016. The song carries a quiet, spiritual weight, with lyrics that reflect peace, faith, and acceptance:
*“When they lay me down someday,
My soul will rise, then fly away.
This old world will turn around,
I’ll be at peace when they lay me down