Ask Carrie Underwood about Loretta Lynn, who’s Billboard’s Women in Music Legend honoree, and she brims with adulation.
“Loretta Lynn is absolutely incredible. It’s women like her who paved the way for women like me,” Underwood told Billboard backstage at the American Music Awards in November.
Billboard Women in Music ‘Legend’ Loretta Lynn: ‘Call Me Your No. 1 You-Know-What-Kind-Of Stirrer’
And the Storyteller singer-songwriter also appreciates the 83-year-old country icon’s spunk. In fact, the first time Underwood met Lynn at an awards show, she playfully smacked her on the behind. “If there’s one person that can smack me on the rear, it’s her,” says Underwood.
Watch the American Idol star talk about Lynn’s impact on her and more in the video above.
And tune in to Billboard’s Women in Music 2015 special on Lifetime on Dec. 18 at 8 p.m. ET, where Woman of the Year Lady Gaga, Missy Elliott, Lana Del Rey and other female music luminaries are honored.
