later led her to the attention of Nashville producer Owen Bradley, who signed Lynn to Decca Records in 1961. Under the new label, Lynn would become one of the most successful female country artists of the decade. The song was brought to international attention in Lynn's Academy Award-winning biopic Coal Miner's Daughter (1980). The film specifically-chronicled how the Lynn's self-promoted "I'm a Honky Tonk Girl" by traveling to individual radio stations and convincing programmers to play the record. Critics and writers have since described its promotion with praise. Robert K. Oermann of Finding Her Voice: The History of Women in Country Music called the story of "Honky Tonk Girl"'s promotion "astonishing". Kurt Wolff of the book Country Music: The Rough Guide commented that the Lynn's "adopted a grassroots approach" when releasing the single. Cover versions Various music artists have covered "I'm a Honky Tonk Girl". Actress Sissy Spacek recorded a version of "Honky Tonk Girl" for Lynn's 1980 film biopic Coal Miner's Daughter. Spacek also appears in the film performing the song. In 1982 British singer-songwriter Elvis Costello included a cover version of the song on his 1982 extended play release I'm Your Toy. American country artist Lee Ann Womack recorded the song for Lynn's 2010 tribute album entitled Coal Miner's Daughter: A Tribute to Loretta Lynn. Country artist Miranda Lambert performed "Honky Tonk Girl" live in tribute to Lynn at the Grand Ole Opry in 2013. Rolling Stone reviewed Lambert's performance positively, stating that Lambert "belts out the lyrics, which are rife with loss and regret, Lynn looks on approvingly, singing along from her front-row seat in the Grand Ole Opry House and commenting on the performance to one of her daughters seated next to her." In 2014 Loretta's granddaughter, Tayla Lynn, released the song featuring her grandmother on the track. Track listings 7" vinyl single "I'm a Honky Tonk Girl" – 2:15 "Whispering Sea" – 2:13 Charts Weekly charts References Footnotes Books Lynn, Loretta (1976). Coal Miner's Daughter, Vintage Books. Oermann, Robert K. (2003). Finding Her Voice: The History of Women in Country Music, Vanderbilt University Press and the Country Music Foundation Press. Wolff, Kurt (2000). Country Music: The Rough Guide, Rough Guides Ltd. External links "Honky Tonk Girl" lyrics at Genius 1960 songs 1960 debut singles Loretta Lynn songs Songs written by Loretta Lynn