DURHAM – Sort of like military service once being a prerequisite for U.S. Presidents, a hard-scrabble upbringing in poor rural circumstances used to be de riguer for country-music stardom. Neither has been the case for quite some time, but one of the last divas standing from that country tradition is reigning country queen Loretta Lynn, who put on a rather peculiar show Saturday night at Durham Performing Arts Center.

Lynn will turn 77 years old next week, and health problems scotched two earlier DPAC dates since last October. The third scheduled date did come to pass, but it seemed like a show that was about her more than by her. Lynn was onstage for 70 minutes, about a third of which she spent watching relatives and understudies perform. It seemed like something you’d see at a state fair or a theater in Branson, Mo.

After the lights went down, Lynn’s daughter Patsy came out to hawk her mom’s box set and cookbook. Then Lynn’s eight-piece backup band, Bart Hanson and the Coal Miners, came out to do two songs; followed by another two songs sung by Patsy; followed by a video tribute showing highlights from Lynn’s 50-year career.

Finally, Lynn herself swept out in a blue sparkly dress with a skirt big enough to hide chickens under. She went right into “They Don’t Make ’Em Like My Daddy,” a 1974 country hit long on the autobiographical details Lynn is famous for.

By now, everybody knows her story. Born a coal miner’s daughter in the Kentucky burg of Butcher Holler; married at 13 in tumultuous circumstances; pulled herself up by her bootstraps while fighting with (and for) her man during most of their five-decade marriage. If all that sounds like a country song, it’s many country songs, which Lynn has been singing over and over since the 1960s.

Lynn covered a decent quantity of them Saturday night, including “You’re Looking At Country,” “Fist City” and “You Ain’t Woman Enough (To Take My Man).” Her voice is still in pretty fair shape and the crowd was adoring, giving “You Ain’t Woman Enough” a standing ovation.

“Bless your hearts,” Lynn said, beaming.

But it’s possible that she wasn’t feeling well, because the closing stretch wasn’t so good. First her grandson came out for a cameo, overstaying his welcome with an extended version of Joan Jett’s “I Love Rock ’n’ Roll.” Even worse was his dad’s two-song bit, including an interminable version of Steve Miller’s “The Joker” as Lynn looked on and dabbed at her face with a handkerchief. If that sounds like a what’s-wrong-with-this-picture moment, well, it was.

Things were hit-or-miss after that, with a nice gospel medley on the upside; and on the downside, the backup singers killing time with a limp country-rock version of “Man of Constant Sorrow.” But she’s got a mighty fine ace in the hole for closing time, the statement of purpose “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” during which we truly were looking at country.

Bless her heart.

ADDENDUM (4/9/12): Much angry commentary here.

Last week, Loretta Lynn's Triangle show was rescheduled to April because she's recovering from knee surgery. And now, the Red Hot Chili Peppers' Jan. 27 show at RBC Center has also been postponed to the same month, also due to a lower-body surgical situation.

The Chili Peppers' new date will be April 4. In a statement, tour promoter Live Nation said the show was  postponed because lead singer Anthony Kiedis recently had to undergo surgery because of "multiple foot injuries," adding that he is expected to make a fully recovery. Also rescheduled are dates in Charlotte, to April 6; and Greensboro, to April 9.

Question: What, besides serious divatude, do Aretha Franklin and Loretta Lynn have in common?

Answer: They've both called off multiple concert dates in the Triangle.

Yes, it's true. Lynn's DPAC show, originally scheduled for Oct. 23 but postponed due to illness to this Sunday, has been postponed again. Details as to why remain unconfirmed; and at this point, I don't have a firm reschedule date more specific than "sometime in April."

I'll post details once I get them. Meantime, all I have to say is, argh...

UPDATE: Still nothing about the reasons for the postponement, but the rescheduled date is April 7.

ADDENDUM (1/5/12): Barry Saunders weighs in.

Well, there's no reason for the Triangle to feel slighted about Adele's Durham show getting called off. Now word has come down that all of Adele's tour dates for the rest of the year, in England as well as America, have been canceled. Here's the announcement:

It is with deep regret that Adele has been forced to cancel her remaining live dates and promotional appearances in 2011. She is to undergo surgery to alleviate the current issues with her throat and a full recovery is expected. As a result, doctors have ordered her to rest her voice and completely recuperate before looking to schedule any work commitments.

Adele's cancellation is part of a run of bad luck this month at DPAC, including postponement of the venue's Aretha Franklin and Loretta Lynn shows. But one has to admire DPAC's verve, because venue management is still in there pitching. The 2012 tour schedule has just been released for another singing legend with a shaky attendance record, George "No Show" Jones, and he's coming to DPAC on Aug. 18. Jones made his NC State Fair show as scheduled this month, so anything is possible.

The diva gods are not being kind to Durham Performing Arts Center this month, with Adele and Aretha Franklin calling off dates. And now country legend Loretta Lynn's show is off. She was to play DPAC Sunday night, but the date has been scotched due to illness according to a post on Lynn's website:

Loretta regretfully must cancel her shows for Ashland KY, and Durham, NC for this weekend, due to illness. Doctors have diagnosed her with the beginning stages pneumonia, and will continue to need rest. Loretta is doing well and is disappointed but feels confident she will be ready for upcoming November dates.

DPAC management hopes to reschedule the date.

UPDATE (10/24/11): Hot dog, they did reschedule it -- to Jan. 8.

The word "legend" gets thrown around a lot more often than it should. But here's someone for whom it definitely applies: Loretta Lynn. In another booking coup, Durham Performing Arts Center is bringing her in this fall. The show is Oct. 23, and tickets go on sale May 20. Prices start at a refreshingly modest $35, although the other price levels have not yet been announced.