JOHN COFFELTEditor

Country stars’ heirs to perform “A Salute to Conway & Loretta” on July 25

The grandchildren of country music legends Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn will present “A Salute to Conway & Loretta” tribute show at 7 p.m. on Thursday, July 25 at the Manchester-Coffee County Conference Center.

The show features Conway Twitty’s grandson Tre Twitty and Loretta Lynn’s granddaughter Tayla Lynn.

Lynn said that the show features some singing, some storytelling in a living history of country music.

“Our dads are their children,” she said. “We come in singing all of their hits, telling stories about what it’s like being their grandchildren. We tell stories about their careers, fan stories – we do audience participation.”

For Lynn, performing her grandmother’s songs is far from doing an impersonation. It’s a tribute to a woman who was a major influence on her life and career.

“I was on the road with my grandmother,” Lynn said. “I started going on the road with her when I was younger. My whole adult life I spent on the road with her, singing her songs – her teaching me how to sing, walk and talk and sing on stage.”

Lynn called Twitty an amazing storyteller who shares a wealth of information about Conway Twitty’s life.

“At the end of the day, we’re just huge fans of Memaw and Poppy,” Lynn said.

The two country legends’ music is seeing a resurgence of appeal among a new generation of fans. Lynn even performed in Manchester at Bonnaroo in 2011.

“After she did the Jack White album, she won that Grammy and was introduced to a new audience,” Lynn said. “They loved it. That record was so awesome, and Bonnaroo was the place for her after that.”

Music City insiders have dubbed the resurgence of the golden era of country the East Nashville vibe.

“All that classic country music is coming back and it’s cool again,” Lynn said. “I think we’re doing this at the right time.”

Lynn said the show is a family friendly show but warns that some of the classic songs by Conway and Loretta like “Slow Hand” and “Lay Me Down” have some suggestive lyrics.

The pair have been performing together for five years, getting help along the way from Loretta Lynn herself.

“Memaw just loved it,” Lynn said. “It brought up so many memories of Conway for her and took her back to a place in her life when they were building their careers. She’d always say that Tre has Conway’s heart.”

In 2022, they made their debut on the world-famous Grand Ole Opry, singing “Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man” on the very same stage where Conway and Loretta once did.

It was Lynn that first had the idea for the show after seeing Conway perform his grandfather’s songs during a concert at Loretta Lynn’s ranch, where she still lives. She approached him about teaming up and, after a few shows to test the waters, they embarked on a tour of Canada in 2018.

The annual July 4 at the ranch show sold again this year.

“Our show gives people an idea of what Loretta and Conway were like through their grandchildren’s eyes,” Conway said. “It’s a special gift to keep that flame burning.”

Lynn and Twitty have a new album out, “Cookin’ up Lovin’” that is a mix of their grandparents’ songs and some new ones that the pair wrote in the style of the country icons.

Tickets are available online at www.itickets.com or by calling 614-414-6899.

John has been with the Manchester Times since May 2011. John has won Tennessee Press Association awards for Best News Photo and placed in numerous other categories. John is a 1994 graduate of Tullahoma High School, a graduate of Motlow State Community College and earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from Middle Tennessee State University. He lives in Tullahoma, enjoys painting, dancing and exploring the outdoors.