British Columbia is a long way from the Appalachian coal fields, but the role that a south Vancouver chicken coop played in the rise of country music legend Loretta Lynn is being recalled after her death at the age of 90.

The neighbourhoodB次元官网网址檚 connection to Lynn is described in a Vancouver Heritage Foundation plaque that marks the former site of a poultry barn on the banks of the Fraser River that also served as a music hall.

The foundation said Lynn was discovered by Canadian producers Don Grashey and Chuck Williams when she performed at the chicken coop in 1959, and their Zero Records label produced her first hit, B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 a Honky Tonk Girl.B次元官网网址�

B.C. writer Rob Howatson, who spent years researching LynnB次元官网网址檚 connection to Vancouver, said he interviewed her in 2012 and she recalled her performance at the chicken coop.

B次元官网网址淭hat was the main piece of information we were able to get from her when I spoke to her,B次元官网网址� said Howatson.

He said Lynn was B次元官网网址渟o polite, down to earth and without guile that she was a pleasure to talk to.B次元官网网址�

In 2013, Lynn performed at the Red Robinson Theatre in Coquitlam, where Howatson met her backstage and gave her a photo of the chicken coop.

B次元官网网址淚 think she was quite tickled by that,B次元官网网址� said Howatson.

The Vancouver Heritage Foundation said investors in LynnB次元官网网址檚 first record included future Vancouver mayor Art Phillips.

LynnB次元官网网址檚 family said she died peacefully in her sleep Tuesday morning at home on her ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tenn.

LynnB次元官网网址檚 biggest hits came in the 1960s and B次元官网网址�70s, including B次元官网网址淐oal MinerB次元官网网址檚 Daughter,B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址淵ou AinB次元官网网址檛 Woman Enough,B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址淭he Pill,B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址淒onB次元官网网址檛 Come Home a DrinkinB次元官网网址� (With LovinB次元官网网址� on Your Mind),B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址淩ated XB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址淵ouB次元官网网址檙e Looking at Country.B次元官网网址�

She was the first woman ever named entertainer of the year by her genreB次元官网网址檚 two major awards shows, first by the Country Music Association in 1972 and then by the Academy of Country Music three years later.

Lynn was also awarded the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2013.

Howatson said LynnB次元官网网址檚 life journey, from poverty to superstardom, represented the American dream.

B次元官网网址淚 will miss Loretta LynnB次元官网网址檚 presence,B次元官网网址� said Howatson. B次元官网网址淪he was a remarkable songwriter and an amazing woman.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址� With files from The Associated Press.