Loretta Lynn Receives Presidential Medal of Freedom [VIDEO]

She was born a coal miner's daughter. She threatened a trip to "Fist City" for any woman who'd mess with her man. And she created a firestorm of controversy and got banned from country radio because of "The Pill."

And now, country music icon Loretta Lynn will add the Presidential Medal of Freedom to her long list of honors.

The prestigious honor--the highest civilian award in the land--is given in recognition of "especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors".

Upon presenting her the medal, President Barack Obama said that Loretta "gave voice to a generation, singing what no one wanted to talk about and saying what no one wanted to think about."

That's Loretta Lynn in a nutshell. From everything I've read and come to know, Loretta's lyrics were a bold shock to the country music system when she burst onto the scene in the 1960s. Women just hadn't been singing about the subjects that simply came naturally to Loretta. She was making a statement without having any idea she was making a statement.

It's that fiery spirit that likely keeps her touring to this day, despite occasional health problems. She's just your basic down-to-earth nuts-and-bolts kind of woman. If she can work, she works.

It comes as no surprise that every female singer after Loretta cites her as a major influence.

Loretta Lynn's fellow award recipients include former President Bill Clinton, Oprah Winfrey, and the late astronaut Sally Ride.