My life has run from misery to happiness.

When I first came to Nashville, people hardly gave country music any respect. We lived in old cars and dirty hotels, and we ate when we could.

My mother used to paper pictures from movie magazines on the wall of her bedroom. When I was born, she looked at those pictures to decide on a name for me. Claudette Colbert's picture was up there and so was Loretta Young's. She decided Loretta was the prettiest name, so I was named after her.

I try to visit people in hospitals when I can, smiling and joking while I'm there. But when I leave, I just start crying.

I came out the back of the building and I was hollering, 'I've sung on the Grand Ole Opry! I've sung on the Grand Ole Opry!'

I've seen country music go uptown, like we say, and I'm proud I was there when it happened.

I'd love to work more with the American Indians, my people.