On a recent episode of the Rooted Recovery Stories podcast, Tayla Lynn, the granddaughter of country music legend Loretta Lynn, opened up about her harrowing journey through addiction and the abuse she endured as a child. Tayla, whose father is Loretta’s oldest son, Ernest, shared her experiences of overcoming significant challenges, including the trauma inflicted by her stepfather.
Tayla’s childhood was marked by turmoil, especially following her parents’ divorce. Her mother married an abusive man, which led Tayla to seek solace in alcohol as a coping mechanism. She vividly recalls how alcohol quickly eroded her sense of self. “The alcohol stole my integrity fast,” she said. “Things that I can’t imagine a 15-, 16-year-old girl doing, it just took away whatever felt like was good in me.”
Despite being surrounded by family members with strong Christian values, Tayla struggled to escape the dark energy that enveloped her life. Her grandmother, Loretta, played a crucial role in her life, often providing support and guidance. Tayla fondly remembers the times Loretta would take her on tour, creating cherished memories that contrasted sharply with her troubled home life.
During the podcast, Tayla revealed that Loretta was one of the few family members who believed her when she disclosed the abuse. “My grandmother and my aunt, the most beautiful gift that they could have ever given me — and I don’t know where these pictures are, but I can remember in my mind, going to their home and them taking pictures of the bruises,” she recounted. “And them saying, ‘We believe you, we believe you.'”
This validation was vital for Tayla, who suffered physical injuries, including broken ribs and black eyes. She and her mother often found themselves trapped in a cycle of leaving their abuser only to return. Unfortunately, not all family members were supportive. Tayla expressed her frustration that some friends and relatives dismissed her accounts of abuse, leading her to feel unheard and misunderstood.
Tayla’s struggles with addiction escalated over the years. After her initial foray into alcohol, she turned to pills, cocaine, and heroin. Loretta, concerned for her granddaughter, attempted to steer her away from the destructive path. “The way she handled it was, I wasn’t allowed to go on the road,” Tayla explained. “Going on the road with her was like heaven to me, but she wouldn’t allow it if I got myself in any trouble.”
Despite Loretta’s efforts, Tayla’s addiction continued to spiral. In 1997, her grandmother arranged for her to enter rehab, but the treatment did not yield lasting results. It wasn’t until 2004 that Tayla achieved sobriety, albeit temporarily. After getting married and becoming a mother, she found herself relapsing once again.
Reflecting on her struggles, Tayla recalled a moment of clarity while living in a fancy neighborhood in Seattle. “You’re sitting there in the middle of this fancy neighborhood not being faithful in your marriage and breastfeeding your baby while you’re doing drugs, and all of a sudden you wake up and say to yourself, ‘What in the hell am I doing?!’” she said.
After a hit-and-run incident led to her arrest, Tayla found herself in rehab once more. This time, however, the experience proved transformative. After 14 years of battling addiction, she was finally ready to embrace change. In rehab, she turned to God for help, praying for strength to overcome her cravings.
“I just prayed,” she recalled. “I said, ‘God, I have to be done. And I have no idea how not to crave these drugs. I don’t know how to stop, but I feel like this is my last chance. Please help me. If you show up, then I’m done.’ I said, ‘I’m surrendering.’”
Tayla described a profound sense of liberation following her prayer. “I was released from that bondage right then,” she said. “God just took the chains, and they were gone.” Although she still faced physical cravings, she felt a divine presence guiding her through the process.
Today, Tayla is eight years sober and living a fulfilling life with her husband and children at the Loretta Lynn Ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee. She is dedicated to making her grandmother proud, both personally and professionally. Her new album, “Tayla Lynn Sings Loretta Lynn,” is a tribute to her musical heritage and a testament to her growth.
“For a long time, I tried to do something different music-wise because I believed that’s what I was supposed to do,” Tayla explained. “But when I let my gut start leading me, and I started trusting my intuition, that’s when I knew that this was the record that I was supposed to make.”
Tayla’s relationship with Loretta, whom she affectionately calls “Memaw,” is deeply special. “To this day, my grandmother and I are soulmates, and neither of us say that lightly,” she shared. Their bond, forged over decades, has been a source of strength for both women.
Loretta Lynn, who passed away in October 2022, expressed her pride in Tayla’s journey. In a heartfelt social media post, she acknowledged the challenges Tayla faced and the importance of sharing their story. “A lot of families don’t want to talk about it, but everybody I know has been impacted some way or another,” Loretta wrote. “This story is raw but it’s real. I’m so proud of her sobriety. I love you, honey. I hope our story helps somebody out there.”
As Tayla reflects on her life today, she is filled with gratitude. “To go from getting arrested in the projects and weighing 82 pounds and selling my body for drugs, to now making a record and having people respect me, is just incredible,” she said. “If I wasn’t sober, I wouldn’t be here.”
Her mornings now begin with a sense of purpose. “Today I wake up before the sunrise so I can make breakfast for my babies and see the chickens on the farm and have some time with God,” she shared. “It’s the first thing I do. I get out of bed, and I thank God for the day.”
Tayla Lynn’s story is one of resilience, love, and the power of belief. With the support of her grandmother and her own determination, she has transformed her life and continues to inspire others with her journey of recovery.
Source: Taste of Country
