She was born Brenda Gayle Webb, the daughter of a Kentucky coal miner. But, while her older sister Loretta Lynn played up that folksy “coal miner’s daughter” image and rode it all the way to fame as a country singer, Brenda took a different path.

It was actually Loretta, older by 16 years, who advised Brenda to change her name to the more exotic “Crystal.”

Crystal Gayle became one of the hottest female singers of the ‘70s, breaking new ground as a singer who crossed over from country to pop.

At 56 she is still performing and recording, as glamorous as ever. She performs Feb. 3 at the Admiral Theatre in Bremerton.

It helped that she was as exotic as her name, with floor-length black hair, startlingly blue eyes and sparkling evening gowns to rival Cher.

Her style was not twangy and downhome, but smooth and sophisticated. The hits came quickly, from “I’ll Get Over You” to what has become her signature song, “Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue.”

That song took her around the world, playing venues from Carnegie Hall to the London Palladium. She appeared in a Bob Hope TV special “On the Road to China,” hosted the American Music Awards, the Academy of Country Music Awards and appeared in several of her own TV specials.

She has picked up the CMA Female Vocalist of the Year Award for two straight years, garnered a Grammy for “Brown Eyes” and won three American Music Awards. And, she appeared on “Sesame Street” where she sang a duet with Big Bird.

In 1999 ASCAP named “Brown Eyes” one of the 10 most performed songs of the 20th century.

She has received the Celebration of Light Award in recognition of her many humanitarian efforts, including writing the theme song for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Appropriately, the award was made of Waterford Crystal.

Crystal Gayle performs at 8 p.m. Feb. 3 at the Admiral Theatre, 515 Pacific Ave., Bremerton.

The Admiral Theatre folks report that tickets are going fast for this much anticipated show, with the main floor and loge already gone. Balcony tickets are $25, available at the box office or by phone at (360) 373-6743.