Country Legends: Tammy Wynette

Virginia Wynette Pugh, known professionally as Tammy Wynette (May 5, 1942 – April 6, 1998), was an American country music singer-songwriter and one of country music's best-known artists and biggest-selling female vocalists.

Tammy Wynette

Many of Tammy Wynette's hits dealt with classic themes of loneliness, divorce and the difficulties of male-female relationships. Her best-known song, "Stand by Your Man", was one of the biggest selling hit singles by a woman in the history of the country music genre. She is quoted as saying that the song took 15 minutes to write and the rest of her life to defend!

During the late 60’s and early 70’s, she dominated the country charts, scoring 17 number one hits, and along with Loretta Lynn and Dolly Parton, she defined the role of female country vocalists in the 1970s.

The name ‘Tammy’ came about because her record producer Bill Sherrill suggested she had a ‘stage’ name and thought she reminded him of Debbie Reynolds in the film ‘Tammy and the Bachelor’.

In 1968 she had three number one hits -

"Take Me to Your World,"

"D-I-V-O-R-C-E" and

"Stand by Your Man"

In 1969 she followed those up with another two number ones –

"Singing My Song" and

"The Ways to Love a Man"  

Her marriage to country singer George Jones in 1969 (ending in divorce in 1975) created a country music "couple" and together they recorded a series of duet albums and singles, which charted throughout the 1970s.

Tammy Wynette died while sleeping on her couch on April 6, 1998, at age 55. Despite her persistent illnesses, Tammy continued to perform until shortly before her death. Her funeral was held on April 9, 1998, and although controversy still surrounds the timing and nature of her death, the fact remains the music industry lost one of its finest performers that day.

Following Tammy Wynette's demise, she was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame, one of the highest honours of her career.

A special CD collection titled ‘Tammy Wynette: Collector's Edition’ was released in 1998, including her signature song "Stand by Your Man", charting outside the Top 40 on the Country charts that same year.

Along with Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, Barbara Mandrell, Dottie West, and Lynn Anderson, Tammy helped redefine the role and place of female country singers.

To grab your own copies of Tammy Wynette’s music just enter her name in the search box on the right or go to www.countrysongscountrysingers.com and search there.