Twitty and Lynn, together again

Country music fans will immediately recognize the names Twitty and Lynn. This week at the Corning Opera House, Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn's music will be performed by Tre Twitty, Conway's grandson, and Tayla Lynn, Loretta's granddaughter.

The 7 p.m. Saturday performance will include many of Conway and Loretta's hit songs along with stories of their lives.

Tre Twitty

Singing came later in life for Tre; he grew up with his mother in Mississippi, only seeing his grandfather a few times a year.

At age 23, when he was fresh out of the U.S. Air Force, Tre's father Michael Twitty invited him on stage to perform one of Conway's songs. Although he had never sung seriously up to that point, Tre gave it a try. He said he didn't feel like he did very well, but the audience loved it.

Tre continued singing with his father and eventually ended up singing at the Loretta Lynn Ranch for the annual tribute to Conway Twitty, who died in 1993. It was here that the idea for a tour started.

Tayla Lynn was backstage while Tre was performing. The pair got together and decided to go on tour singing their grandparents' songs. In January of 2018, Twitty and Lynn began touring full time.

While in the Air Force, Tre was a member of the honor guard based in Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, California. Although he trained as a mechanic, when he arrived at Travis AFB, honor guard members were needed due to the consolidation of bases. His duties included attending retirement ceremonies and funerals, carrying the flag, acting as a pall bearer, folding the flag to present to the family and participating in the traditional 21 gun salute.

"It's a very rewarding job," Tre said, "Family always appreciates you being there for their dad or granddad or whoever you're there for. It just makes the whole terrible experience ... prideful, I guess."

In his off time from touring, Tre is a professional photographer, shooting weddings and senior photos.

Tayla Lynn

Music was a focus of Tayla's life from a very early age.

"I started singing as soon as I opened my mouth," Tayla said.

She was 4 years old the first time she remembers her "Memaw" Loretta Lynn bringing her on stage to sing. Memaw has always been a big part of Tayla's life and music.

Tayla lives on the Loretta Lynn Ranch with her husband and is a "full-time momma" of their two children ages 4 and 7.

She travels, not only as a part of this duo, but also for her solo career. She is releasing an album later this year, which deals with the sudden loss of her mother in 2018. Several of the songs list Loretta as co writer. Tayla said working with Loretta helped her process her grief. The two of them are working on a song using lyrics Tayla's mother left on her voicemail the week before she died.

The Show

Tayla and Tre don't try to be their famous grandparents in the tribute show.

"We're just their grandchildren telling their stories though our eyes," Tre said.

The duo sings songs from both musicians' solo careers and from their hits together. Interspersed with the music are stories. Tayla said Tre tends to tell stories of Loretta and Conway, their songs and their lives in the music business. Tayla tells more current stories of how life with Loretta is now and how she is doing.

"I embrace Memaw, I sing her songs," Tayla says. "I am me, but I am a lot like her."

Tre said he enjoys small shows such as the one they will be doing at the Corning Opera House.

"You can talk to the audience like they're in your living room," he said. "It's easier to connect."

Tayla will be greeting fans and doing giveaways at Back Lounge Coffee 2 p.m. Saturday in Corning before the show.