Loretta Lynn married at 15, not 13

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Research supervisor Walter Bowman at the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives said in the early ‘30s it was more common for people to register their prized horses or livestock than the births of their children.

Not until the Social Security system was founded in the mid-1930s did parents have a monetary reason to put their kids on record.

Social Security Administration officials said privacy laws prevent them from releasing information about any living person, including a birth date.

Music journalist and author Robert K. Oermann, who wrote "Finding Her Voice" about women in country music, said nothing can overshadow Lynn’s accomplishments.

"In the 1960s, you didn’t have the 24-hour news cycle, saturation of personality journalism that you have today. So what appealed to people was the fact that the songs were so extraordinary. Her singing was so great. Everything about her was so refreshing and country," he said.

"It wasn’t until much later that people became aware of her backstory, but the music itself is what made her a star. The biography, the life story was just the icing on the cake."

In 1972, Lynn became the first woman to be named entertainer of the year by the Country Music Association. She is known for hits, including "Coal Miner’s Daughter," "You Ain’t Woman Enough," "The Pill," "Rated X," and "Don’t Come Home A’ Drinkin’ (With Lovin’ on Your Mind)." Her last top 10 record as a soloist was "I Lie" in 1982.

Associated Press writers Roger Alford in Frankfort, Ky., and Joni Beall and Stephen Ohlemacher in Washington contributed to this report.

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