The White Stripes News

(7/1/03, 10 a.m. ET) -- Jack White, one half of the White Stripes duo, continues his fascination with one of his heroes, country music star Loretta Lynn.

White is producing tracks for Lynn's next album, reports the Detroit Free Press. The seeds for the unlikely match were sown when Lynn's daughter discovered that the White Stripes' album White Blood Cells was dedicated to the country superstar. The Stripes also recorded a version of Lynn's "Rated X," which was released as a b-side.

After being invited to Loretta Lynn's house, Jack White and Lynn hit it off, and he then asked Lynn to perform with the White Stripes at an April show at New York City's Hammerstein Ballroom. Lynn sang "Rated X" with the band, and White joined Lynn for two of her hits, "Fist City" and "Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man."

White told the Detroit Free Press, "We really hit it off. There's some kind of connection with us. I feel really comfortable with her, and I think she feels really comfortable with me, which I'm really glad for because I could see someone like me--the way I look or whatever--not being appealing to her thinking that maybe I wasn't down with the kind of music she does... She could tell we had the same love for the same things about music."

He added of the album, "I wanted to cry when I heard these songs. She's still writing amazing songs."

There's no word at press time on when Lynn's next effort will hit stores, or when the White Stripes and Lynn will next team up for a show.

White Stripes' latest album, Elephant, is currently at Number 27 on the Billboard 200 album chart.

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