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PHOTO: Loretta Lynn, Willie Nelson Hold Hands in Touching Moment Following 2019 CMA Awards

It’s not news that Loretta Lynn and Willie Nelson are friends. They worked together early in Lynn’s career. At that time, Willie was still a clean-cut country singer and Loretta had just arrived in Nashville. The pair formed a friendship that endures today. How could they not? By all accounts, they’re two of the sweetest people in country music. At the same time, they’re both icons from the glory days of the genre. It would be more surprising if they weren’t close.

The two old friends reunited after the 2019 CMA Awards. Loretta Lynn joined Willie Nelson on his tour bus to chat and catch up. Luckily, a couple of photos came out of their neeting. In those pictures, we get a rare look at the pair. Instead of two living legends on a tour bus, they just look like old friends getting away from the world and having a chat.

The first of the photos comes from Loretta Lynn’s Instagram account. In the caption, she mentions how much fun she had that night. Then goes on to say how nice it was to catch up with her buddy, Willie Nelson.

The second photo, posted on Facebook by Down on Music Row, is a little more intimate. Willie Nelson and Loretta Lynn are holding hands while talking. The looks on their faces say they are sharing an emotional moment. It’s such a sweet and human image of two people who are normally seen as larger-than-life. At that moment’ they aren’t The Coal Miner’s Daughter and The Red Headed Stranger. They’re just Loretta and Willie and it’s really touching.

Old Friends… Loretta and Willie November 13, 2019 [Courtesy of Tim Cobb]

Posted by Down On Music Row on Thursday, November 14, 2019

What Led to Loretta Lynn and Willie Nelson’s Chat

Loretta Lynn and Willie Nelson were attending the 2019 CMA Awards. It was the first time they had been there at the same time in years. So, it was like the universe telling them it was time to sit and visit for a while.

The evening’s festivities began with a great lineup of women of country music. Among them were Dolly Parton, Jennifer Nettles, Reba McEntire, The Highwomen, and Loretta Lynn’s sister Crystal Gayle. They sang a medley of the biggest hits from the women of country. This included Lynn’s “You’re Lookin’ at Country,” which was inspired by her Hurricane Mills home, and Gayle’s “Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue.” The country icon was in the front row for the performance. Jennifer Nettles pointed Lynn out to the crowd before they sang “You’re Lookin’ at Country.”

Willie Nelson, on the other hand, was there to perform. He did “Rainbow Connection” with Kacey Musgraves who took home the award for Female Vocalist of the Year that night.

From the photos, it looks like their chat was the perfect way to cap off a great night. What I wouldn’t give to have been a fly on Willie Nelson’s wall that night.