Loretta Lynn Earns First-Ever Billboard Women in Music Legend Award

Country icon Loretta Lynn has been announced as the first-ever recipient of the Billboard Women in Music Legend Award.

The new honor, which Lynn will receive at Billboard's 2015 Women in Music event, "honors Lynn's historic contributions to the industry and artistry of American music, which has established her among the highest class of performers," according to Billboard.

"From the moment she broke through more than five decades ago, Loretta Lynn has been an unstoppable musical force who writes and performs with a breathtaking fearlessness and honesty," says Janice Min, co-president and chief creative officer of Guggenheim Media’s Entertainment Group, which consists of Billboard and the Hollywood Reporter. "As a musical pioneer, author and inspiration to everyone from Jack White to Miranda Lambert, Loretta Lynn has pushed every boundary in music and is the definition of a legend."

The country music legend has landed a total of 29 albums in the Top 10 on Billboard's Top Country Albums chart, 11 of which made it to No. 1. She has also earned 16 No. 1 singles on the Hot Country Songs chart. In March, Lynn will release Full Circle, her first new album in more than 10 years and first studio album under a multi-album deal with Legacy Recordings.

Lynn will not be the only country artist honored at this year's Women in Music event: Kelsea Ballerini has been selected to receive the Rising Star Award.

Billboard's 2015 Women in Music event is scheduled to take place in New York City on Dec. 11. Other award recipients and performers include Lady Gaga, Selena Gomez, Lana Del Ray, Alabama Shakes‘ Brittany Howard, Demi Lovato and more. The event will air on Dec. 18 on Lifetime.

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