Loretta Lynn

Van Lear Rose Loretta Lynn

One of country music's most critically acclaimed albums from the 00s returns in a new and expanded edition. Loretta Lynn's Van Lear Rose was originally released in 2004 and came to be through an unusual collaboration with Jack White of The White Stripes, who, at just 28 years old, took on the role of producer for the then 71-year-old country legend.

The collaboration became a musical meeting between generations, where Lynn's traditional country sound was united with Jack White's raw production. The result was an album that both preserved Lynn's characteristic storytelling style and added a new energy to her music. Songs like "Portland Oregon", "Van Lear Rose" and "Miss Being Mrs." demonstrated how her personal songwriting and strong vocals could still make a big impression after more than four decades in the music industry.

Despite the fact that Loretta Lynn's career lasted for a good six decades, something few can boast of, Van Lear Rose perhaps stands as her finest album. The album became an overwhelming success with both critics and audiences upon its original release. The album reached second place on Billboard's country album chart and became Lynn's biggest crossover success to date. At the 2005 Grammy Awards, it won the award for Best Country Album, while the duet with Jack White on "Portland Oregon" received the award for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals. The album was also named album of the year at the 2004 Americana Music Awards.

Now, Jack White's record label Third Man Records is reissuing the album. The 2026 edition is expanded with the bonus track "Just to Have You Back", which has previously only been available through Third Man Records' exclusive Vault series.