Considered Lynn's signature song, it was originally released as a single in 1970 and became a number one hit on the Billboard country chart.

Produced by Owen Bradley, the song tells the story of Lynn's coal-mining father in rural Kentucky during the Great Depression.

[2] "Coal Miner's Daughter" would receive positive reviews from journalists and music critics alike following its release.

The song has been covered several times since its original release, notably being a collaboration from Lynn, Sheryl Crow and Miranda Lambert.

[6] Subsequent verses recall Lynn's other childhood experiences and hardships, such as her mother reading the Bible by a coal-oil light or having bloody fingers from constantly doing the laundry using a wash board.

"[6] Before recording, she removed extra verses of the song related to further mentions of her father and life in rural Kentucky.

[6] Unlike live performances, the recorded version of "Coal Miner's Daughter" did not include guitar-playing by Lynn herself.

"[9] Cary O'Dell of the Library of Congress called it Lynn's "most autobiographical song" and commented on its importance to the country music genre.

[4] Mary A. Bufwack and Robert K. Oermann found the song to be a symbol of Lynn's pride in being a working class person.

[10] Music critics of Rolling Stone also gave "Coal Miner's Daughter" a positive response and named it one of Lynn's "20 Essential Songs."

"With astonishing economy, the pride of Butcher Holler details her sparse but happy childhood and the things they did keep shoes on their feet (specifically, sell a hog).

"[13] Wide Open Country's Bobbie Jean Sawyer ranked it number one on her list of "The 15 Best Of All Time" songs by Lynn.

"In just three minutes, the song sums up Lynn's incredible life and the career that made her a country icon," Sawyer wrote.

"[15] The song became a number one hit on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart later that year, spending one week at the position.

The magazine called it the song to have a "purely Appalachian" style that "makes vivid musical pictures of Daddy’s job at the Van Lear Coal Mines, Mommy’s bleeding fingers at the washboard, the kids barefoot in summer and shod from a mail-order catalog in winter.

In 1976, her first autobiography was also titled Coal Miner's Daughter and helped introduce Lynn's music to newer generations.

[4] The film became a critical and commercial success and received seven nominations at the 53rd Academy Awards including for the Best Picture, with Spacek winning Best Actress portraying Lynn.

The song was parodied as Cow Minder's Daughter by Laraine Newman, who portrayed the fictional east Indian singer "Govinda Lynn."

[34] In 1980, a version of "Coal Miner's Daughter" was recorded by American actress and singer Sissy Spacek for Lynn's 1980 biopic of the same name.

Additional songs Spacek performed for the soundtrack were cut during the same session, such as "You Ain't Woman Enough (To Take My Man)," "Fist City" and "There He Goes.

"[38][16] Spacek's version became a top-40 hit in the United States, reaching number 24 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart in 1980.

Lynn spoke of the re-recording in 2010 and praised the collaboration with Crow and Lambert: "I love Miranda and Sheryl, and I really felt they both brought something different singing style wise to this song.

Holly Gleason of Lonestar Music Magazine praised Lynn's traditional approach when recording the song with Crow and Lambert.

"Lynn can still show the kids how to do it: tossing her head back and going to the song’s center, demonstrating what a fiery, feisty country presence is," Gleason commented.

"[45] Aryl Watson of Cover Me Songs stated that "Lambert and Crow willingly take a backseat on the chorus, letting Lynn tell the story her way.

According to Gary Overton of Sony Music Entertainment, Lynn called radio stations herself to help promote the song.

[47] The single entered the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for one week on December 4, 2010, and peaked at number 55 on the survey.

[50] Music download[42] Loretta Lynn notably re-recorded "Coal Miner's Daughter" again for her 2021 studio album, Still Woman Enough.

[56] A music video for "Coal Miner's Daughter" was directed by David McClister on site at Lynn's ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee.

Lynn reflected on the song and the video in a press statement: "It’s amazing how much has happened in the fifty years since ‘Coal Miner’s Daughter’ first came out and I'm extremely grateful to be given a part to play in the history of American music.