Loretta Lynn On Country Music: "I Think It's Dead"

Country music icon Loretta Lynn didn't pull punches when discussing the state of her beloved genre in a new interview, The Tennessean reports.

"I think it's dead," Lynn said during an episode of Martina McBride's "Vocal Point" podcast, released Thursday. "I think it’s a shame. I think it’s a shame to let a type of music die. I don’t care what any kind of music it is. Rock, country, whatever. I think it’s a shame to let it die, and I’m here to start feeding it."

She continued, describing modern country as "a sad situation, because we should never let country music die."

Lynn said: "I think that every type of music should be saved, and country is one of the greatest. It’s been around, as far as I’m concerned, longer than any of it.”

Lynn — an 87-year-old trailblazer known for generational country standards "Coal Miner's Daughter" and "Don't Come Home A-Drinkin'" — took to Facebook late Thursday to clarify her comments.

In her follow-up statement, Lynn said she made a "big stir" with the interview and assured listeners that "I love country music and I'm so proud of the rich heritage of our kind of music."

"... there's such a hard push to crossover and change it up, and do something new that we can lose what country music really is all about," the statement said. "I like it country—pure, simple, and real! I am so proud of all the artists out there, especially the younger ones, who know what I mean and are still keeping it country.

"When you love something you can't just stand by quietly if you think it's in danger. One thing's for sure, if we keep it country, the fans will keep on listening, I know in my heart that it's what they want!"