Crystal Gayle was born Brenda Gail Webb on January 9, 1951, in Paintsville, Kentucky, to Clara Marie “Clary” (née Ramey; May 5, 1912 – November 24, 1981) and Melvin Theodore “Ted” Webb (October 24, 1906 – February 23, 1959), a coal miner.

She was the youngest in the poor coal mining family of ten. She was also the only one of the eight children to be born in a hospital.

Her older siblings are:

• Melvin Webb (December 4, 1929 – July 1, 1993)
• Loretta Lynn (née Webb; April 14, 1932)
• Herman Webb (September 3, 1934)
• Jay Lee (born Willie Lee Webb; February 12, 1936 – July 31, 1996)
• Donald Ray Webb (April 2, 1941)
• Peggy Sue Wright (née Webb; March 24, 1943)
• Betty Ruth Webb (January 5, 1946)

Webb’s family moved north to Wabash, Indiana, when she was four. Four years later, her father died of black lung disease. Though a shy child, Brenda would sing along with country and pop songs on the radio, and she was encouraged by her mother to sing for visitors to their house.

Inspired by the success of her sister Loretta Lynn, she learned to play the guitar and sing backup in her brothers’ folk band. While still in high school, she began to tour with her sister for a few weeks each summer. After graduating from Wabash High School in 1970, Brenda signed with Decca Records, her sister’s label. However, since there was already a singer named Brenda Lee with Decca Records, she was asked to change her first name.

Loretta Lynn suggested the name “Crystal” after seeing a sign for the Krystal hamburger restaurant chain. Brenda Gail Webb thus became Crystal Gayle. In 1971 she married Bill Gatzimos, her high-school sweetheart; they have two children and a grandson.

For more information visit www.crystalgayle.com