Tammy Wynette facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tammy Wynette
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Wynette on the set of The Johnny Cash Show in 1971
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| Born |
Virginia Wynette Pugh
May 5, 1942 |
| Died | April 6, 1998 (aged 55) Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
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| Resting place | Woodlawn Memorial Park Cemetery |
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| Years active | 1965–1998 |
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| Children | 4 |
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Tammy Wynette (born Virginia Wynette Pugh; May 5, 1942 – April 6, 1998) was a famous American country music singer, songwriter, and actress. Many people consider her one of the most important and successful artists in country music history. She helped bring a woman's voice to country music, which used to be mostly male singers.
Tammy Wynette's unique singing style was praised by many for showing deep emotion. She had 20 songs that reached number one on the Billboard country music charts. Her most famous song, "Stand by Your Man", became her signature song. It was loved by many but also received some criticism for how it showed women's loyalty to their husbands.
Wynette grew up in a small town in Itawamba County, Mississippi. She worked on her family's farm but always dreamed of becoming a singer. She performed music as a teenager. In 1965, she moved to Nashville, Tennessee, to start her country music career. She soon signed with Epic Records. Her first song, "Apartment No. 9", came out in 1966. In 1967, she had her first big hit with "Your Good Girl's Gonna Go Bad". Her career grew even more with number one songs like "I Don't Wanna Play House", "D-I-V-O-R-C-E", and "Stand by Your Man".
In the 1970s, Tammy Wynette was one of country music's biggest stars. She often had songs at the top of the charts. She also married fellow country singer George Jones. They sang many songs together that became number one hits. They also toured as a popular duo. After their marriage ended, Wynette continued to have hit songs into the 1980s. She also acted in TV shows, like Capitol.
Tammy Wynette sold about 30 million records around the world. She won two Grammy Awards, three Country Music Association awards, and two Academy of Country Music Awards. She was one of the first female country singers to have gold and platinum records. She was also honored by being added to the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.
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Early Life
Virginia Wynette Pugh was born in Itawamba County, Mississippi, in 1942. The farm where she was born was close to the Alabama state line. She often said both Alabama and Mississippi were her home states. She was the only child of Mildred Faye Russell and William Hollis Pugh. Her mother was a teacher, and her father was a musician.
Wynette's father passed away when she was only nine months old. Before he died, he wanted her to learn to play the piano. After his death, Wynette's mother moved to Memphis, Tennessee, to work during World War II. Wynette stayed with her grandparents and helped pick cotton on their farm. She later said she "hated every minute" of picking cotton. She also learned to play musical instruments her father left behind.
Wynette called her grandparents "Mama" and "Daddy." Most people called her by her middle name, "Wynette." In 1946, her mother married Foy Lee, who became Wynette's stepfather. As a child, Wynette played basketball and was very good at it. She made the all-state basketball team in 1958 and 1959.
She also took piano lessons. Her teacher told her mother that Wynette had a natural talent for music. In elementary school, Wynette became friends with Linda Cayson. They discovered they could sing together. With another friend, they formed a group called Wynette, Linda & Imogene. They often sang at gospel events. A local minister even had them sing on his Saturday morning radio show. They listened to country artists like Ernest Tubb and Hank Williams.
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Wynette went to Tremont High School in Tremont, Mississippi. Her friends thought she was popular. In 1960, her classmates voted her "Miss Tremont High School." She was also interested in dating. Her mother did not approve of her dating, and they often argued about it.
At 17, she married Euple Byrd. This caused some disagreements with her mother. The couple lived in a small apartment in Tupelo, Mississippi. Wynette became pregnant with her first child. She was able to live rent-free in a home owned by her grandfather. This old home had no running water, heat, or electricity. Her friend Linda helped her put cardboard on the walls to keep out the wind in winter.
In 1963, Euple got a job in Red Bay, Alabama, and they moved to a home with more comforts. Wynette went to beauty school to help with money. She later worked as a barmaid in Memphis, Tennessee, and sang for customers. People there encouraged her to move to Nashville, Tennessee, to pursue music. She finished beauty school in Tupelo. Even after becoming famous, she kept renewing her cosmetology license every year. Wynette later moved to Birmingham, Alabama.
Music Career
Starting Out in Alabama and Nashville
In 1964, Wynette moved to Birmingham and lived with her father's family. She found out her beauty license would not work in Alabama, so she went back to beauty college. Her family encouraged her music talent. Her uncle helped her get an audition for a TV show called Country Boy Eddie. The show's star, Eddie Burns, was impressed and let her perform.
On her first show, she sang "Sweet Dreams" by Patsy Cline. She performed on the show every morning before going to school and then to her job at a beauty salon. She earned 45 dollars a week. She also became friends with the show's pianist, David Vest, who helped her record demo songs. They often played music together in Birmingham.
Wynette visited a local radio station and met a disc jockey named Fred Lehner. She went with him on a trip to Nashville, Tennessee. This trip made her want to become a country music star. In January 1966, she decided to move to Nashville with her three children.
In Nashville, Wynette stayed at the Anchor Motel. She met musician Don Chapel there. They started performing together in different states. Chapel tried to help Wynette get a record deal, but many companies turned her down. Finally, she met Billy Sherrill, a new producer at Epic Records. Sherrill liked her voice and signed her to a contract in 1966.
For her first recording, Wynette sang "Apartment No. 9". Sherrill changed her stage name from Wynette Byrd to Tammy Wynette. He told her, "You look like a Tammy to Me," referring to a movie called Tammy and the Bachelor. "Apartment No. 9" was her first song and reached number 44 on the Billboard country chart. Even with a charting song, she didn't have much money. Sherrill helped her get tour dates. Many promoters didn't want to book female performers. She later said, "I had begun to realize I was working in a man's world."
Becoming a Star and Singing with George Jones
In 1967, Epic released "Your Good Girl's Gonna Go Bad". This song went to number three on the country charts and was her first big hit. Her first album, also called Your Good Girl's Gonna Go Bad, reached number seven on the country album charts. Next, she sang a duet with David Houston called "My Elusive Dreams", which was her first number one country song.
Her next solo song, "I Don't Wanna Play House", also reached number one in 1967. This song later won Wynette a Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance. Her songs "Take Me to Your World" and "D-I-V-O-R-C-E" topped the country charts in 1968. "D-I-V-O-R-C-E" also made it onto the main Billboard Hot 100 chart and was her first song to reach number one in Canada. These songs were on her third album, Take Me to Your World / I Don't Wanna Play House, which reached number three on the country album chart in 1968.
With her new success, Wynette started touring. She traveled with her band, the Countrypolitans. She played acoustic guitar sometimes. In late 1967, she toured internationally for the first time in Germany and the United Kingdom. She also performed with George Jones. Wynette and Jones started singing "My Elusive Dreams" together on tour. They soon realized they had feelings for each other. Wynette married Jones in 1969.
Around this time, Wynette recorded "Stand by Your Man". She and Billy Sherrill reportedly wrote the song in just 15 minutes. The song talks about women supporting their husbands. It made her a voice for many working-class housewives. However, some people, especially from the feminist movement, criticized it for being too traditional. "Stand by Your Man" became a number one hit in the U.S. and Canada. It also reached number 19 on the main Hot 100 chart and later topped the charts in the United Kingdom. The album with the same name reached number two on the country album chart.
After "Stand by Your Man," Wynette received many awards. In 1969, she became a member of the Grand Ole Opry and won her second Grammy award. She also won Top Female Vocalist from the Academy of Country Music in 1969. She won Female Vocalist of the Year from the Country Music Association three years in a row (1968, 1969, and 1970). Her 1969 album, Tammy's Greatest Hits, was one of the first female country albums to sell enough copies to be certified gold and later platinum. Critics praised her music. Kurt Wolff said her songs created "a solid female perspective on country radio."
Tammy Wynette was one of country music's most successful and popular artists. She had ten more songs reach number one on the Billboard country chart. Most of these songs were about housewives trying to make their husbands happy or how difficult marriages affect children. Epic Records also released many albums by Wynette during this time. Between 1969 and 1970, she released six albums. This included a gospel album, Inspiration, and a holiday album, Christmas with Tammy. Her album Tammy's Touch (1970) topped the country album chart.
Jones and Wynette wanted to record together after they married. They started touring in 1969, but couldn't record together until 1971. Their first song together was "Take Me". In 1971, it reached number nine on the country chart. Their first album together, We Go Together (1971), reached the top five on the country album chart. Their 1972 song, "The Ceremony", was also a top ten hit. Epic Records released seven albums of Jones and Wynette singing together. They were known as one of country music's most successful duos. People often called them the "President and First Lady" of country music. Their tour bus was even called "Mr. and Mrs. Country Music."
Their marriage had many challenges. Wynette filed for divorce in 1973, but they got back together. Soon after, they recorded "We're Gonna Hold On", which was about their own lives. It became their first number one country song together. After another disagreement, Wynette filed for divorce again. They officially separated in 1975. Even after their divorce, they recorded one more album called Golden Ring. The song "Golden Ring" became their second number one country hit in 1976.
Solo Success and Later Years
After her divorce from George Jones, Wynette continued her solo career. She felt nervous performing alone at first. Fans would often shout, "Where's George?" She said she didn't know how to connect with the audience by herself. Wynette created her own stage show. She hired the Gatlin Brothers as her band and also hired several women for her road crew. She included upbeat gospel songs and emotional ballads in her shows.
In 1976, she returned to number one on the country charts with "'Til I Can Make It on My Own". This was her first solo number one song in almost three years. Wynette co-wrote the song, and it reflected her life after the divorce. She said it was her favorite song she ever recorded. The album of the same name reached number three on the country album chart. Her next song, "You and Me", also topped the country chart. A duet with Jones from the year before, "Near You", also reached number one in 1976.
Wynette continued to have hit songs into the late 1970s, even though none of them reached number one. In 1980, she reunited with George Jones for the song "Two Story House". It reached number two on the U.S. country chart and number one in Canada. This was her last song to reach the top five in the U.S. They also performed together at some shows.
In the 1980s, Wynette's record sales started to slow down. She married George Richey, who became her manager and produced some of her albums. Her 1982 album, Soft Touch, had a top ten song called "Another Chance". Other songs in the early 1980s also reached the top 20.
Comeback and Collaborations
Around 1985, Wynette made changes to her career. She hired a new manager, Stan Moress, who suggested she change her look and add dancing to her shows. She also started working with producer Steve Buckingham. She recorded a duet with Mark Gray called "Sometimes When We Touch". This song reached number six on the country chart in 1985. It was her first top ten song in four years. Her album of the same name reached number 32 on the country album chart.
Wynette's next album, Higher Ground, came out in 1987. It featured other famous singers like Emmylou Harris and Ricky Skaggs. Critics called it a "landmark LP," but it only reached number 43 on the country chart. Its songs, "Your Love" and "Talkin' to Myself Again", were more successful.
In the 1990s, new people were hired to manage Wynette's career. They helped her perform in new places. Wynette also recorded with the British group the KLF. In 1991, they made the song "Justified and Ancient (Stand by the JAMs)". This dance-pop song was very different from her usual music. It became a huge hit, reaching number one in 18 countries.
In 1993, Wynette teamed up with Loretta Lynn and Dolly Parton to record the album Honky Tonk Angels. Parton said she wanted to make the album "before one of us goes." The album featured classic country songs sung in three-part harmony. Honky Tonk Angels reached number six on the country album chart and was Wynette's first top ten album in 18 years. It also became a gold record in the United States.
In 1994, Wynette released an album of duets called Without Walls. It featured collaborations with famous artists like Melissa Etheridge, Elton John, and Sting. Her health problems continued in the 1990s. She often missed concerts because she was too ill. In the mid-1990s, she was very sick with a serious infection. During her recovery, George Jones visited her and encouraged her to record another album with him. The result was One in 1995. The album reached number 12 on the country chart. They then went on a successful tour together.
In 1995, Epic Records stopped working with Wynette. However, she remained a popular concert performer until her death. She recorded a remake of The Beach Boys's "In My Room" with Brian Wilson. This was her final recording. Wynette's last concerts and TV performances were in March 1998.
Other Works
Tammy Wynette also worked outside of music. In 1979, she published a book about her life called Stand by Your Man: An Autobiography.
Her life was also shown in movies and TV. In 1981, CBS aired a TV movie about her life, also called Stand by Your Man. Annette O'Toole played Wynette, and Tim McIntire played George Jones. The movie received mixed reviews.
In 1986, Wynette joined the cast of the CBS soap opera Capitol. She played a hair stylist who became a singer. In 1987, BBC released a documentary about her life called Stand by Your Dream. A film crew followed Wynette on tour and at home. Wynette loved cooking and often cooked pinto beans on her tour bus. This inspired her to write Tammy Wynette's Southern Cookbook in 1990. The book had Southern American recipes from her family.
In the 1990s, Wynette appeared more on television. In 1994, she was a guest star on Burt Reynolds's TV show Evening Shade. She also made a cameo on the sitcom Married... with Children in 1996. Wynette later voiced a character named Tilly Hill (Hank Hill's mother) on the animated TV show King of the Hill from 1997 to 1998.
After her death, more works about her were released. Her daughter, Jaclyn Daly, wrote a book called Tammy Wynette: A Daughter Recalls Her Mother's Tragic Life and Death. Another book, Tammy Wynette: Tragic Country Queen, was written by Jimmy McDonough. Her fourth daughter, Georgette Jones, wrote The Three of Us, about growing up with her parents. A TV series about Wynette and Jones's marriage, called George and Tammy, began production in 2022. It stars Jessica Chastain as Wynette and Michael Shannon as Jones.
Death
Tammy Wynette had health problems throughout her life. Her health became worse in her final years. She passed away on April 6, 1998, while sleeping at her Nashville, Tennessee home. She was 55 years old. Her doctor stated she died from a blood clot in her lung.
A public memorial service was held at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium on April 9, 1998. About 1,500 people attended, and the service was shown live on TV. A private burial service was held earlier at Nashville's Woodlawn Memorial Park Cemetery.
Personal Life
First Marriage
Wynette married Euple Byrd when she was 17, just before finishing high school. Her mother did not approve of the marriage. Wynette's grandfather signed the papers to make their marriage legal. They had three daughters together. They divorced in 1965.
Second Marriage
Wynette met Don Chapel in Nashville in 1965. He worked at the motel where she was staying. They started a relationship. Chapel was also a songwriter. They married in 1967. Their marriage ended in 1968.
Marriage to George Jones
Wynette first met George Jones while touring with him in the late 1960s. Jones was also friends with her second husband, Don Chapel. Wynette said Jones helped her when one of her children was sick. Jones and Wynette married on February 16, 1969. They moved into a large home in Lakeland, Florida. They later built a music venue on their property.
Jones and Wynette's marriage had many ups and downs. Wynette filed for divorce in 1973, but they got back together. Their problems continued, and Wynette filed for divorce a second time in late 1974. It was finalized on January 8, 1975. They had one daughter together.
Short-term Relationships and Fourth Marriage
After her divorce from George Jones, Wynette had a few short relationships. She met real estate developer Michael Tomlin. They married on July 18, 1976. The marriage was ended just six weeks later.
Final Marriage to George Richey
On July 6, 1978, Wynette married her fifth husband, George Richey. Richey was a songwriter, music publisher, and record producer. He had written songs for George Jones, Merle Haggard, and Wynette herself. They already had a working relationship before they married.
Wynette's marriage to Richey caused some tension with her family. Her youngest daughter, Georgette Jones, said Richey tried to keep her mother away from close friends. Georgette also said she was kept from seeing her biological father, George Jones, because Richey didn't want her to. However, Wynette and Richey stayed together until her death in 1998.
Children
Tammy Wynette had four daughters. Three were from her first marriage to Euple Byrd. Their first child, Gwendolyn Lee, was born in 1961. Their second, Jaclyn Faye, was born in 1962. Her third, Tina Denise, was born early in 1965. Tina was very small and later got sick, but she fully recovered. In 1975, Tina recorded an album with her mother and stepfather called George & Tammy & Tina.
In 1970, Wynette had her fourth daughter, Tamala Georgette Jones. She was her only child with George Jones. Georgette later became a country music artist herself. She has recorded several albums and toured internationally. After their mother's death, Jaclyn and Georgette have worked to keep her memory alive. Both daughters wrote books about their mother.
Legacy
Tammy Wynette helped bring a female voice to country music. Her songs spoke to women in rural areas and working-class families. Her music also helped make country radio more open to female artists. Along with Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, and Dolly Parton, Wynette helped make female country artists very popular.
Wynette had 39 songs reach the Billboard country chart, and 20 of them reached number one. She is said to have sold about 30 million records worldwide. Kurt Wolff called her "the most successful woman country singer of the late 1960s." Edward J. Reily called Wynette "one of the most successful female country vocalists of all time."
Wynette's impact led to her being called "The First Lady of Country Music." Stephen Thomas Erlewine said she earned this title because she "dominated the country charts." He also noted that her song production and modern storylines helped her get this title.
Her partnership with George Jones is seen as one of country music's most famous collaborations. Sara Kettler said, "Despite many ups and downs... the pair still recorded some of the best duets in country music history."
Journalist Claudia Levy called Wynette "one of country music's most influential singers." Her career inspired many female country performers. Faith Hill said it's important for new generations to hear Tammy Wynette. Miranda Lambert found that "Stand by Your Man" showed both loyalty and strength in women. Kellie Pickler recorded a song called "Where's Tammy Wynette" to bring awareness of her music to new fans. Reba McEntire also said Wynette influenced her. Many other artists have named Wynette as an influence, including Garth Brooks, Sheryl Crow, Elton John, Wynonna Judd, Taylor Swift, and Carrie Underwood.
Wynette received many honors during her life and after her death. In 1991, she received the Living Legend Award. In 1996, she received the American Music Awards' "Award of Merit" for her great contributions to music. In 1993, she was added to the Alabama Music Hall of Fame. She also performed for several American presidents, including Ronald Reagan at The White House in 1983 and George H. W. Bush in 1991.
After her death, a tribute album called Tammy Wynette Remembered was released in 1998. It featured her popular songs sung by other artists. Also in 1998, she was added to the Country Music Hall of Fame. In 1999, "Stand by Your Man" was added to the Grammy Hall of Fame. The song was also added to the National Recording Registry. In 1999, VH1 included her on its list of the 100 Greatest Women of Rock. In 2003, she received the Pioneer Award from the Academy of Country Music.
In 2010, the state of Mississippi named a part of Mississippi Highway 23 the Tammy Wynette Memorial Highway. This road is in Itawamba County, where she was born. Also in 2010, the Country Music Hall of Fame opened an exhibit about her life called "Tammy Wynette: First Lady of Country Music." In 2017, Rolling Stone magazine ranked her number 16 on their list of the 100 Greatest Country Artists of All-Time. Her song "Stand by Your Man" was ranked No. 473 on Rolling Stones "500 Greatest Songs of All Time" in 2021. Her song "D-I-V-O-R-C-E" was ranked number 69 on Rolling Stones 2014 list of the "100 Greatest Country Songs of All Time."
Discography
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Studio albums
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Studio albums with George Jones
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Filmography
| Title | Year | Role | Notes | Ref. |
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| Nashville 99 | 1977 | Herself | Cameo appearance | |
| Capitol | 1986–1987 | Darlene Stankowski | ||
| Stand by Your Dream | 1987 | Herself | Documentary | |
| Evening Shade | 1994 | Jolene Eldridge | ||
| Married...with Children | 1996 | Herself | Cameo appearance | |
| King of the Hill | 1997–1998 | Tilly Hill |
Books
- Stand by Your Man: An Autobiography (with Joan Dew) (1979)
- The Tammy Wynette Southern Cookbook (1990)
Images for kids
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Wynette on the set of The Johnny Cash Show in 1971
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A promotional image of Wynette, 1970
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Wynette in a performance shortly following her divorce, 1975
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Wynette was married to songwriter and producer, George Richey, until her death in 1998.
See also
In Spanish: Tammy Wynette para niños
