Tammy Wynette (born Virginia Wynette Pugh; May 5, 1942 – April 6, 1998)
was an American
country music
Country (also called country and western) is a genre of popular music that originated in the Southern and Southwestern United States in the early 1920s. It primarily derives from blues, church music such as Southern gospel and spirituals, ...
artist, as well as an actress and author. She is considered among the genre's most influential and successful artists. Along with
Loretta Lynn
Loretta Lynn (; April 14, 1932 – October 4, 2022) was an American country music singer and songwriter. In a career spanning six decades, Lynn released multiple gold albums. She had numerous hits such as "You Ain't Woman Enough (To Take My Ma ...
, Wynette helped bring a woman's perspective to the male-dominated country music field that helped other women find representation in the genre. Her characteristic vocal delivery has been acclaimed by critics, journalists and writers for conveying unique emotion. Twenty of her singles topped the ''
Billboard''
country chart
Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine in the United States.
This 50-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly by collecting airplay data from Nielsen BDS along with digital sal ...
during her career. Her
signature song "
Stand by Your Man" received both acclaim and criticism for its portrayal of women's loyalty towards their husbands.
Wynette was born and raised in
Itawamba County, Mississippi, by her mother, stepfather, and maternal grandparents. During childhood, Wynette picked cotton on her family's farm but also had aspirations of becoming a singer. She performed music through her teen years and married Euple Byrd at age 17. With several marital setbacks, Wynette enrolled in cosmetology school and later appeared on a local country music television program. Wynette then divorced and moved to
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital city of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the seat of Davidson County. With a population of 689,447 at the 2020 U.S. census, Nashville is the most populous city in the state, 21st most-populous city in the U.S., and ...
, to pursue a country music career in 1965. She soon met her second husband, Don Chapel, and eventually signed with
Epic Records. Under the production of
Billy Sherrill
Billy Norris Sherrill (November 5, 1936 – August 4, 2015) was an American record producer, songwriter, and arranger best known for his association with country artists, notably Tammy Wynette and George Jones. Sherrill and business partner Gl ...
, her first single was released in 1966 called "
Apartment No. 9". In 1967, she had her first commercial success with the single "
Your Good Girl's Gonna Go Bad". In the late sixties, Wynette's career rose further with the number one ''
Billboard'' country singles "
I Don't Wanna Play House", "
D-I-V-O-R-C-E
"D-I-V-O-R-C-E" is a song written by Bobby Braddock and Curly Putman, and recorded by American country music artist Tammy Wynette. It was released in May 1968 as the first single and title track from the album '' D-I-V-O-R-C-E''. Wynette's ve ...
" and the self-penned "
Stand by Your Man".
As her career entered the 1970s, Wynette was among country music's most popular artists and regularly topped the charts. During the same time, she met and married fellow country artist
George Jones
George Glenn Jones (September 12, 1931 – April 26, 2013) was an American country musician, singer, and songwriter. He achieved international fame for his long list of hit records, including his best-known song " He Stopped Loving Her Today", ...
. The pair had a recording career together that resulted in several number one country singles and a successful touring act. However, their relationship was tumultuous and they divorced in 1975. Wynette returned as a headlining solo performer following their separation. She also continued to have singles regularly make the upper reaches of the country charts into the 1980s. In 1991, Wynette had a commercial comeback with pop group
the KLF
The KLF (also known as the Justified Ancients of Mu Mu, the JAMs, the Timelords and other names) are a British electronic band formed in London in 1987. Bill Drummond (alias King Boy D) and Jimmy Cauty (alias Rockman Rock) began by releasing ...
, and continued recording through the 1990s. During this time, she also acted on several television shows, including ''
Capitol
A capitol, named after the Capitoline Hill in Rome, is usually a legislative building where a legislature meets and makes laws for its respective political entity.
Specific capitols include:
* United States Capitol in Washington, D.C.
* Numerous ...
'' (1986). Wynette had several more high-profile relationships before marrying her final husband,
George Richey, in 1978. Several intestinal health problems led to hospitalizations and addictions to prescription pain killers, the latter of which was said to have led to her death in 1998.
Wynette has sold an estimated 30 million records worldwide. She has received two
Grammy Award
The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pr ...
s, three
Country Music Association awards, and two
Academy of Country Music Awards. Wynette was also among country music's first female performers to have discs certify gold and platinum by the
Recording Industry Association of America. Her influence as a country music artist led to several inductions into music associations. This includes inductions into the
Country Music Hall of Fame and the
Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame
The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame was established in 1970 by the Nashville Songwriters Foundation, Inc. in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. A non-profit organization, its objective is to honor and preserve the songwriting legacy that is ...
.
Early years
Virginia Wynette Pugh was born in
Itawamba County, Mississippi in 1942. With only 800 people, Itawamba County did not have any official towns at the time of her birth. The farm where she was born on bordered the Alabama state line. Wynette later credited both Alabama and Mississippi as her home states. She was the only child born to Mildred Faye Russell and William Hollis Pugh. Russell was a school teacher, while her father was an aspiring musician who played guitar and sang in a group. Her father was diagnosed with an inoperable
brain tumor
A brain tumor occurs when abnormal cells form within the brain. There are two main types of tumors: malignant tumors and benign (non-cancerous) tumors. These can be further classified as primary tumors, which start within the brain, and seconda ...
and died when Wynette was only nine months old. Weeks before his death, Wynette's father brought her to the family piano and insisted she learn to play when she became old enough. Following his death, Wynette's mother moved to
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the U.S. state of Tennessee. It is the seat of Shelby County in the southwest part of the state; it is situated along the Mississippi River. With a population of 633,104 at the 2020 U.S. census, Memphis is the second-mos ...
, where she worked in a defense plant during
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...
. She was left in the care of her grandparents and picked cotton on their Mississippi farm. "I hated every minute I spent picking cotton," she recalled. Her mother's sister Carolyn was raised alongside Wynette and they developed a sister-like bond. She also learned to play the musical instruments that her father left behind.
Wynette referred to her grandparents as "Mama" and "Daddy" while Mildred Russell was simply referred to as "Mother". Most people referred to young Virginia Pugh by her middle name, "Wynette". In 1946, Mildred Russell married Wynette's stepfather, Foy Lee. As a child, Wynette played basketball but was not allowed to wear the shorts provided to the girl's team. Instead, her grandfather had Wynette wear blue jeans. She later made the all-state basketball team in both 1958 and 1959. She also took piano lessons and learned to play by ear. After several lessons, the instructor told her mother she was "wasting her money" because of her natural ability on the instrument. In upper elementary school, Wynette befriended classmate Linda Cayson. The pair became close friends and later realized they could harmonize with one another. Along with another friend, they would form a trio called Wynette, Linda & Imogene. The trio often sang at gospel functions together. A local
Methodist
Methodism, also called the Methodist movement, is a group of historically related denominations of Protestant Christianity whose origins, doctrine and practice derive from the life and teachings of John Wesley. George Whitefield and John's ...
minister had both Linda and Wynette sing on his early-morning Saturday radio show on
WERH. They also listened to music together, including country artists
Ernest Tubb and
Hank Williams.
Wynette attended Tremont High School in
Tremont, Mississippi
Tremont is a town in Itawamba County, Mississippi, United States. It was founded in 1852. The population was 465 at the 2010 census, up from 390 at the 2000 census.
Geography
Tremont is in eastern Itawamba County, to the east of Bull Mountain C ...
. She was considered to be "popular" by high school friends. In 1960, she was voted "Miss Tremont High School" by her classmates. Wynette also smoked cigarettes. She also became fascinated with the opposite sex. "She was into datin' and boys long before we were," recalled friend Holly Ford. However, mother Mildred disapproved of her daughter dating and the pair often argued about it during her teenage years. During this period, Wynette fell in love with fellow church attendee, Billy Cole. Wynette insisted on getting married to Cole and attempted to keep it from her mother by mail-ordering eight dollar rings to her high school. However, Wynette's mother discovered her daughter's idea and stopped the courtship. Wynette temporarily moved to
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham ( ) is a city in the north central region of the U.S. state of Alabama. Birmingham is the seat of Jefferson County, Alabama's most populous county. As of the 2021 census estimates, Birmingham had a population of 197,575, down 1% fr ...
, when she was 17, where her mother and Foy Lee were living at the time.
She soon moved back to her grandparents' farm after her mother found her difficult to control.
At age 17, she married Euple Byrd, which caused friction with Wynette's mother. The couple lived temporarily at Euple's family home and then in a small apartment in
Tupelo, Mississippi. By this point, Wynette had become pregnant with her first child and was given the opportunity to live rent-free at a home owned by her grandfather. Built in 1844, the home had no running water, heat, or electricity. Friend Linda Cayson helped Wynette nail cardboard boxes to the walls to keep the wind out during the winter months.
In 1963, Euple obtained a job in
Red Bay, Alabama
Red Bay is a city in Franklin County, Alabama, United States. It was founded in 1907; its western boundary line is integral with the state line between Mississippi and Alabama. The population was 3,232 at the 2020 census. The town's name comes fr ...
, that allowed the family to move to a home with more amenities. To help sustain themselves financially, Wynette convinced her mother to help pay for her to attend Mrs. McGuire's School of Beauty. In the middle of her schooling, Euple found work in Memphis, Tennessee and the young family moved there. In Memphis, she obtained a job as a
barmaid and sang for customers. Both the bar owner and the building's in-house pianist were impressed by Wynette's talents and encouraged a move to
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital city of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the seat of Davidson County. With a population of 689,447 at the 2020 U.S. census, Nashville is the most populous city in the state, 21st most-populous city in the U.S., and ...
. However, the family soon returned to Tupelo where she finished cosmetology school. After becoming famous, she continued renewing her
cosmetology
Cosmetology (from Greek , ''kosmētikos'', "beautifying"; and , '' -logia'') is the study and application of beauty treatment. Branches of specialty include hairstyling, skin care, cosmetics, manicures/ pedicures, non-permanent hair removal such ...
license every year for the rest of her life, in case she ever had to go back to a daily job.
Wynette ultimately left her first marriage and moved to
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham ( ) is a city in the north central region of the U.S. state of Alabama. Birmingham is the seat of Jefferson County, Alabama's most populous county. As of the 2021 census estimates, Birmingham had a population of 197,575, down 1% fr ...
.
Career
1964–1966: Early career in Alabama and the move to Nashville
In 1964, Wynette moved to Birmingham and lived with her paternal grandparents, uncle, and cousins. She discovered that her cosmetology license could not transfer to Alabama so she enrolled at a beauty college. Her paternal family also encouraged Wynette's musical talents. Her uncle worked for the
WBRC
WBRC (channel 6) is a television station in Birmingham, Alabama, United States, affiliated with the Fox network. It is owned by Gray Television alongside low-power, Class A Telemundo affiliate WTBM-CD (channel 24). The two stations studios ...
television station in Birmingham and helped his niece secure an audition for the ''Country Boy Eddie'' country music television show. The show's headliner, Eddie Burns, was impressed and agreed to have her on the program. On her first show, she sang a cover of
Patsy Cline
Patsy is a given name often used as a diminutive of the feminine given name Patricia or sometimes the masculine name Patrick, or occasionally other names containing the syllable "Pat" (such as Cleopatra, Patience, Patrice, or Patricia). Among I ...
's "
Sweet Dreams" while the camera pointed above her waist to avoid showing Wynette's pregnant body. Wynette performed on the program from six to eight o'clock each morning before going to school, and later, working at the Midfield Beauty Salon. She received 45 dollars per week. She befriended the show's pianist,
David Vest, who helped record
demos. The pair also performed together, often playing
piano bar
A piano bar (also known as a piano lounge) consists of a piano or electronic keyboard played by a professional musician. Piano bars can be located in a cocktail lounge, bar, hotel lobby, office building lobby, restaurant, or on a cruise ship. Usu ...
s in the Birmingham area.
Wynette also started visiting a local radio station called
WYAM and met disc jockey Fred Lehner. She accompanied Lehner on a trip to
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital city of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the seat of Davidson County. With a population of 689,447 at the 2020 U.S. census, Nashville is the most populous city in the state, 21st most-populous city in the U.S., and ...
, which inspired her to pursue a country music career. Meanwhile, Euple Byrd continued returning to Birmingham. Not officially divorced, the couple agreed to give their marriage one final chance and they lived in a Birmingham housing project near the steel industry. However, after Byrd secured a new job, he did not return to the residence, according to Wynette. In January 1966, she decided to make the move to Nashville with her three children and all their belongings in their car.
Once arriving in Nashville, Wynette moved into the Anchor Motel while attempting to gain a recording contract. At the motel, she met her future husband, musician Don Chapel. After moving into an East Nashville apartment, Chapel and Wynette put together a road show. For several months, the pair performed in several states including Georgia and Pennsylvania. Chapel also attempted to help Wynette secure a country recording contract with the
Musicor,
Hickory,
Kapp, and
Decca labels. However, Wynette was turned down by every company. Nashville producer Kelso Herston helped her arrange a meeting with new
Epic Records producer
Billy Sherrill
Billy Norris Sherrill (November 5, 1936 – August 4, 2015) was an American record producer, songwriter, and arranger best known for his association with country artists, notably Tammy Wynette and George Jones. Sherrill and business partner Gl ...
. Wynette went into Sherrill's office and pitched him several songs.
Sherrill was impressed by her voice and signed her to a recording contract with Epic in 1966.
On her first recording session, Wynette cut
Bobby Austin's "
Apartment No. 9". Following this, Sherrill changed her stage name from Wynette Byrd to Tammy Wynette. "You look like a Tammy to Me," Sherrill told her in reference to the film ''
Tammy and the Bachelor''. In October 1966, "Apartment No. 9" was released as Wynette's debut single and reached number 44 on the American ''
Billboard''
Hot Country Songs chart.
Although she had a charting single, Wynette still had little income. Sherrill arranged for booking agent, Hubert Long, to set up tour dates for her. However, many promoters did not want to book Wynette because she was a female performer. "I had begun to realize I was working in a man's world, and most of them looked down on women in the business," she later explained.
1967–1975: Breakthrough, "Stand by Your Man" and recordings with George Jones
In 1967, Epic released "
Your Good Girl's Gonna Go Bad".
It climbed to number three on the ''Billboard'' country singles chart and was Wynette's first chart success.
Her debut album of the
same name was also released in 1967 and reached number seven on the ''Billboard''
Country LPs chart.
They were followed by a duet with David Houston called "
My Elusive Dreams", which was her first number one country single.
Its follow-up was the solo single "
I Don't Wanna Play House" which topped the ''Billboard'' country chart in 1967.
It later won Wynette the
Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance.
Her next singles topped the country charts through 1968: "
Take Me to Your World
"Take Me to Your World" is a 1968 single written by Billy Sherrill and Glenn Sutton and recorded by Tammy Wynette. "Take Me to Your World" was Tammy Wynette's second number one on the country charts as a solo artist. The single stayed at number o ...
" and "
D-I-V-O-R-C-E
"D-I-V-O-R-C-E" is a song written by Bobby Braddock and Curly Putman, and recorded by American country music artist Tammy Wynette. It was released in May 1968 as the first single and title track from the album '' D-I-V-O-R-C-E''. Wynette's ve ...
".
The latter was her second to make the ''Billboard''
Hot 100 and also her first to top Canada's ''
RPM'' country chart.
The recordings appeared on Wynette's third studio disc, ''
Take Me to Your World / I Don't Wanna Play House
''Take Me to Your World / I Don't Wanna Play House'' is a studio album by American country artist Tammy Wynette. It was released in January 1968 via Epic Records and contained 11 tracks. It was the third studio album of Wynette's career. The album ...
'', which reached number three on the Country LPs chart in 1968.
Wynette started touring amidst her newfound success. She was joined by second husband, Don Chapel, and a band called the Countrypolitans. The group featured a drummer, steel guitarist, guitar player, bass player, and background singer. Wynette herself played acoustic guitar on occasion. She toured for the first time internationally in late 1967 to Germany and the United Kingdom. She also did several package dates with Chapel, David Houston, and
George Jones
George Glenn Jones (September 12, 1931 – April 26, 2013) was an American country musician, singer, and songwriter. He achieved international fame for his long list of hit records, including his best-known song " He Stopped Loving Her Today", ...
. Wynette and Jones began performing "My Elusive Dreams" on the road following an argument with Houston's management. Upon realizing their romantic feelings for one another, Wynette divorced Chapel and married Jones in 1969.
During this time, Wynette went into the studio to record the single "
Stand by Your Man". Reportedly written by Wynette and Billy Sherrill in 15 minutes, the song's emphasis on women standing by their husbands made her a spokeswoman for the working class housewife.
It also received criticism from the
feminist movement who found it too conservative.
"Stand by Your Man" topped the ''Billboard'' and ''RPM'' country charts,
reached number 19 on the Hot 100
and later topped the charts in the United Kingdom.
A corresponding LP of the
same name reached number two on the ''Billboard'' country albums chart.
In the wake of "Stand by Your Man", Wynette received a series of accolades. In 1969, she joined the cast of the
Grand Ole Opry and won her second Grammy award.
She also won the 1969 Top Female Vocalist accolade from the
Academy of Country Music
The Academy of Country Music (ACM) was founded in 1964 in Los Angeles, California, Los Angeles, California as the Country & Western Music Academy. Among the founders were Eddie Miller (songwriter), Eddie Miller, Tommy Wiggins, and Mickey and Chris ...
and three back-to-back honors for Female Vocalist of the Year from the
Country Music Association (1968, 1969 and 1970).
Her 1969 compilation, ''
Tammy's Greatest Hits
''Tammy's Greatest Hits'' is a compilation album by American country music singer-songwriter Tammy Wynette. It was released on August 11, 1969, by Epic Records. The album was certified platinum in 1989 by the RIAA
The Recording Industry Asso ...
'', was among the first female country albums to certify gold (and later platinum) by the
Recording Industry Association of America.
Critics had also taken notice of her music. Greg Adams of
AllMusic
AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databa ...
described the ''Stand by Your Man'' LP as "consistent" and gave it five stars. Writer Kurt Wolff found her material "from the mid-60's onward" created "a solid female perspective on country radio that the listening public badly craved."
Meanwhile, rock critic
Robert Christgau found Wynette's "sultry" delivery to have "archetypal power".
Wynette was among the country music's most commercially-successful and popular artists.
She followed it with ten more singles that topped the ''Billboard'' country chart: "
Singing My Song" (1969), "
The Ways to Love a Man" (1969), "
He Loves Me All the Way
"He Loves Me All the Way" is a song written by Billy Sherrill, Norro Wilson and Carmol Taylor, and recorded by American country music artist Tammy Wynette
Tammy Wynette (born Virginia Wynette Pugh; May 5, 1942 – April 6, 1998) was an Americ ...
" (1970), "
Run Woman Run" (1970), "
Good Lovin' (Makes It Right)" (1971), "
Bedtime Story" (1971), "
My Man (Understands)" (1972), "
'Til I Get It Right" (1972), "
Kids Say the Darndest Things" (1973), and "
Another Lonely Song" (1973).
Most of these songs followed similar themes about housewives attempting to keep their husbands happy or the effects that troubled marriages have on children. Additionally, Epic Records released a series of studio albums by Wynette during this period. Between 1969 and 1970 alone, Epic released six original albums. This included the 1969
gospel
Gospel originally meant the Christian message (" the gospel"), but in the 2nd century it came to be used also for the books in which the message was set out. In this sense a gospel can be defined as a loose-knit, episodic narrative of the words a ...
LP, ''
Inspiration'', and the 1970 holiday LP, ''
Christmas with Tammy''. Additional album projects featured her number one and top ten singles of the period. Of these LP's, ''
Tammy's Touch
''Tammy's Touch'' is a studio album by American country artist, Tammy Wynette. It was released on April 27, 1970 via Epic Records and contained 11 tracks. The album's material centered around themes of heartbreak and romance. Many of the album's so ...
'' (1970) topped the ''Billboard'' country albums chart. ''
The Ways to Love a Man'' (1970), ''
The First Lady'' (1971) and ''
My Man'' (1972) reached the ''Billboard'' country top five.
Jones and Wynette had been wanting to record together since they married. Although they started touring together in 1969, they could not record together until 1971 when Jones was released from his previous contract. Their first single was a remake of Jones's solo release, "
Take Me". In 1971, it climbed to number nine on the ''Billboard'' country chart and number 12 on the ''RPM'' country chart.
Their first studio LP, ''
We Go Together'' (1971), reached the top five of the ''Billboard'' country albums chart.
Their 1972 single, "
The Ceremony", was also a top ten single in the United States and Canada.
Altogether, Epic label issued seven studio albums of Jones and Wynette duets. The pair were considered among country music's most successful and well-known duet partnerships.
Touring as a packaged duo, they were often referred to as the "President and First Lady". Their tour bus was labeled "Mr. and Mrs. Country Music".
However, their marriage had several challenges which made their day-to-day life difficult, such as Jones's alcoholism.
Jones often missed shows after drinking too much, which increased Wynette's growing frustration with their relationship. The couple's marital problems prompted her to file for divorce in 1973, but the pair reconciled. Shortly afterwards, they recorded the autobiographical single, "
We're Gonna Hold On".
It became their first song to top the ''Billboard'' country chart.
An album of the
same name charted at number three on the Country LPs list.
It was followed by the top ten single "
We Loved It Away" in 1974.
After a fight between the couple, Wynette filed for divorce again. This time however, the pair went through with it and they officially split in 1975.
Despite their divorce, they were coaxed back into the studio once more to record the album ''
Golden Ring''.
Its
title track
A title track is a song that has the same name as the album or film in which it appears. In the Korean music industry, the term is used to describe a promoted song on an album, akin to a single, regardless of the song's title.
Title track may a ...
became the duo's second ''Billboard'' number one country single, while also reaching number five in Canada in 1976.
1976–1984: Solo return with "'Til I Can Make It on My Own" and continued success
Despite her divorce from George Jones, Wynette had to continue her career. However, she had anxiety about doing so. Fans would shout, "Where's George?" during most early performances following their split.
"Even though I'd been on stage for eight years, I didn't know how to communicate with the people," she recalled. Previously a packaged act with Jones, Wynette created her own stage show for the first time. She hired the Gatlin Brothers (
Larry Gatlin
Larry Wayne Gatlin (born May 2, 1948) is an American country and Southern gospel singer and songwriter. As part of a trio with his younger brothers Steve and Rudy, he achieved considerable success within the country music genre, performing on ...
and his brothers Rudy and Steve) to be her road band. She also hired several women as part of her road crew. Wynette included up-tempo
gospel
Gospel originally meant the Christian message (" the gospel"), but in the 2nd century it came to be used also for the books in which the message was set out. In this sense a gospel can be defined as a loose-knit, episodic narrative of the words a ...
songs to energize the audience along with slow ballads that were "extraordinarily intimate," according to writers Mary A. Bufwack and
Robert K. Oermann.
In 1976, she returned to the top of American and Canadian country songs charts with "
'Til I Can Make It on My Own".
It was her first ''Billboard'' chart-topper as a solo artist in almost three years.
The song was co-written by Wynette and reflected her life following the divorce. According to Wynette, it was her favorite song she recorded in her career.
Her album of the
same name reached number three on the ''Billboard'' country LPs chart.
"'Til I Can Make It on My Own" was nominated for Song of the Year by the Country Music Association, while Wynette herself was nominated for Female Vocalist of the Year.
Her next release, "
You and Me", also topped the ''Billboard'' country chart, while a
corresponding studio LP reached the country albums top five.
A duet with Jones recorded the year before, "
Near You", also topped the North American country charts in 1976.
Several incidents in Wynette's personal life also occurred during this period. These incidents included several short-term relationships, house
burglaries
Burglary, also called breaking and entering and sometimes housebreaking, is the act of entering a building or other areas without permission, with the intention of committing a criminal offence. Usually that offence is theft, robbery or murder ...
, and alleged
kidnappings. She also developed health problems that led to a dependence on
pain killers. Yet, her commercial success continued. Although none of her solo singles topped the charts, she continued reaching the top ten. Both "
(Let's Get Together) One Last Time" and "
One of a Kind" reached number six on the ''Billboard'' country chart in 1977. Through 1979, Wynette had three more solo releases reach the ''Billboard'' and ''RPM'' top ten: "
Womanhood
A woman is an adult female human. Prior to adulthood, a female human is referred to as a girl (a female child or adolescent). The plural ''women'' is sometimes used in certain phrases such as "women's rights" to denote female humans regardl ...
", "
They Call It Making Love" and "
No One Else in the World".
Critics and writers highlighted Wynette's music of this period. Bufwack and Oermann observed that her late 1970s singles "took a candid look at modern sexuality". AllMusic's Thom Jurek found 1977's ''
One of a Kind'' LP to evoke the performances of a "true
diva
Diva (; ) is the Latin word for a goddess. It has often been used to refer to a celebrated woman of outstanding talent in the world of opera, theatre, cinema, fashion and popular music. If referring to an actress, the meaning of ''diva'' is cl ...
" and "country music's reigning queen". Meanwhile, critic Eugene Chadbourne (also of AllMusic) found the musical quality of 1978's ''
Womanhood
A woman is an adult female human. Prior to adulthood, a female human is referred to as a girl (a female child or adolescent). The plural ''women'' is sometimes used in certain phrases such as "women's rights" to denote female humans regardl ...
'' to be mediocre and gave it two-and-a-half stars.
As the 1980s progressed, Wynette continued having commercial success but with less frequency.
In 1980, she reunited with George Jones for the duet single, "
Two Story House". It reached number two on the ''Billboard'' country chart and number one on the ''RPM'' country chart. However, it also proved to be her final American top five single.
The pair also reunited for several shows including a performance at
Wembley Stadium
Wembley Stadium (branded as Wembley Stadium connected by EE for sponsorship reasons) is a football stadium in Wembley, London. It opened in 2007 on the site of the original Wembley Stadium, which was demolished from 2002 to 2003. The stadium ...
and an
HBO special. In 1980, Wynette told Billy Sherrill that she was ready to work with a new record producer. "She needed fresh blood, fresh ideas," Sherrill commented in 2010. The final Sherrill-produced album was 1980's ''
Only Lonely Sometimes''. Both singles from the LP ("
He Was There (When I Needed You)" and "
Starting Over") reached number 17 on the ''Billboard'' country chart.
Several years prior, Wynette married for the fifth (and final) time to
George Richey. The pair previously wrote songs together, but after marrying, he became her full-time manager.
Besides business affairs, he also produced several of her albums. Following the
Chips Moman-produced ''
You Brought Me Back'' (1981), Richey produced Wynette's 1982 LP, ''
Soft Touch''. The album spawned "
Another Chance", which became her first top ten single in several years. Additional early 1980s singles made the country top 20: "
Crying in the Rain" (1981), "
You Still Get to Me in My Dreams" (1982), and "
A Good Night's Love" (1983).
Wynette's record sales began to wane in popularity following 1982. Both the albums ''
Good Love & Heartbreak'' (1982) and ''
Even the Strong Get Lonely'' (1983) reached only the ''Billboard'' country top 60.
Wynette's singles also reached progressively lower chart positions following 1982. This included "Still in the Ring" and a cover of
John Prine
John Edward Prine (; October 10, 1946 – April 7, 2020) was an American singer-songwriter of country-folk music. He was active as a composer, recording artist, live performer, and occasional actor from the early 1970s until his death. He ...
's "Unwed Fathers".
1985–1998: Commercial comeback, collaborations and final years
Around 1985, Wynette made changes to her declining career. She hired California-based Stan Moress to serve as her manager. Moress had Wynette cut her hair, change her wardrobe, and incorporate choreography into her shows.
Steve Buckingham also started producing Wynette's next album, which was to feature a duet. Although she wanted to collaborate with
Merle Haggard
Merle Ronald Haggard (April 6, 1937 – April 6, 2016) was an American country music singer, songwriter, guitarist, and fiddler.
Haggard was born in Oildale, California, toward the end of the Great Depression. His childhood was troubled a ...
, she was instead instead paired with
Mark Gray. Gray had left
Exile before that band's shift from pop to country, and was beginning a solo country music career of his own at the time. Their result was a cover of the pop song "
Sometimes When We Touch
"Sometimes When We Touch" is a 1977 ballad written by Canadian pop rock artist Dan Hill (lyrics) and Barry Mann (music) on the album '' Longer Fuse''. It was first released as a single by Hill. His version of the song became the most successful ...
". Wynette and Gray's rendition peaked at number six on the ''Billboard'' country chart in 1985. It became her first top ten recording in four years.
The Buckingham collaboration resulted in Wynette's 1985
album of the same name, which charted at number 32 on the ''Billboard'' country LPs survey.
Amidst a commercial comeback, Wynette also faced several setbacks. In late 1986, Wynette entered the
Betty Ford Center to treat her addiction to prescription drugs. Two years later, Wynette and her husband declared
bankruptcy following several failed investments.
Wynette's longtime label released her next album titled ''
Higher Ground'' in 1987.
The second Buckingham-produced project, he described it as "a more rural, more back-home" album. It featured collaborations with
Emmylou Harris,
Ricky Skaggs
Rickie Lee Skaggs (born July 18, 1954), known professionally as Ricky Skaggs, is an American neotraditional country and bluegrass singer, musician, producer, and composer. He primarily plays mandolin; however, he also plays fiddle, guitar, ...
,
The O'Kanes,
Gene Watson
Gary Gene Watson (born October 11, 1943) is an American country music singer. He is most famous for his 1975 hit "Love in the Hot Afternoon," his 1981 No. 1 hit " Fourteen Carat Mind," and his signature 1979 song " Farewell Party." Watson's l ...
, and Larry Gatlin.
Bufwack and Oermann called it a "landmark LP", while AllMusic gave it a four-star rating. Despite positive reviews, ''Higher Ground'' only peaked at number 43 on the ''Billboard'' country chart.
Its singles proved more commercially successful. In 1987, "
Your Love" reached the American and Canadian country songs top 20, while "
Talkin' to Myself Again" reached number 16 on the former.
Following ''Higher Ground'', Buckingham told
Sony Music
Sony Music Entertainment (SME), also known as simply Sony Music, is an American multinational music company. Being owned by the parent conglomerate Sony Group Corporation, it is part of the Sony Music Group, which is owned by Sony Entertainme ...
executives that it was becoming difficult to think of new album concepts for Wynette. This resulted in a temporary end to their professional partnership. Instead, she was paired with producer
Norro Wilson for 1989's ''
Next to You'' and
Bob Montgomery for 1990's ''
Heart Over Mind''. Singles spawned from both albums reached positions outside the ''Billboard'' and ''RPM'' country top 40.
As Wynette's career entered the 1990s, several new team members were hired to manage her business affairs. This included Epic vice president Mark Martinovich who had to convince the Nashville establishment that Wynette was still marketable. Martinovich had her perform in more diverse settings, including
The Bottom Line venue in
Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village ( , , ) is a neighborhood on the west side of Lower Manhattan in New York City, bounded by 14th Street to the north, Broadway to the east, Houston Street to the south, and the Hudson River to the west. Greenwich Village ...
. Other new ventures included Wynette recording with British group
the KLF
The KLF (also known as the Justified Ancients of Mu Mu, the JAMs, the Timelords and other names) are a British electronic band formed in London in 1987. Bill Drummond (alias King Boy D) and Jimmy Cauty (alias Rockman Rock) began by releasing ...
. In 1991, they collaborated on the song, "
Justified and Ancient (Stand by the JAMs)".
KLF member
Bill Drummond
William Ernest Drummond (born 29 April 1953) is a Scottish artist, musician, writer, and record producer. He was a co-founder of the late-1980s avant-garde pop group the KLF and its 1990s media-manipulating successor, the K Foundation, with wh ...
was a fan of Wynette's and personally called to ask her permission to record the track. Wynette accepted and Drummond helped produce it. Although she had difficulty singing in-time to the track, the song was pieced together by studio engineers when Drummond returned to England. The
dance-pop song centering around an imaginary setting called "Mu Mu Land" was considered a departure from Wynette's previous recordings in terms of song choice and production. It became a chart success. By 1992, the single was being routinely played on
MTV and reached number one in 18 countries.
In 1993, Wynette joined with
Loretta Lynn
Loretta Lynn (; April 14, 1932 – October 4, 2022) was an American country music singer and songwriter. In a career spanning six decades, Lynn released multiple gold albums. She had numerous hits such as "You Ain't Woman Enough (To Take My Ma ...
and
Dolly Parton
Dolly Rebecca Parton (born January 19, 1946) is an American singer-songwriter, actress, philanthropist, and businesswoman, known primarily for her work in country music. After achieving success as a songwriter for others, Parton made her album d ...
to record the studio album ''
Honky Tonk Angels''. Parton herself explained that she wanted to make the project "before one of us goes". Consisting of classic country recordings performed in three-part harmonies, the album reunited Wynette with Steve Buckingham. Several selections on the project were penned by the trio, including one composed by Wynette herself. ''Honky Tonk Angels'' reached number six on the ''Billboard'' country albums chart and number 42 on the ''Billboard'' 200.
It was Wynette's first top ten ''Billboard'' album in 18 years and her first album in 22 years to certify gold in the United States.
AllMusic's Kelly McCartney called it "a fun listen" while the
Songwriters Hall of Fame
The Songwriters Hall of Fame (SHOF) is an American institution founded in 1969 by songwriter Johnny Mercer, music publisher/songwriter Abe Olman, and publisher/executive Howie Richmond to honor those whose work, represent, and maintain, the her ...
described it as a "landmark album".
In 1994, Wynette released a studio album of duets titled ''
Without Walls''. It featured collaborations with notable artists of the era including
Melissa Etheridge,
Elton John, and
Sting. Its first single was a duet with
Wynonna Judd
Wynonna Ellen Judd or simply Wynonna ( ; born Christina Claire Ciminella; May 30, 1964) is an American country music singer. She is one of the most widely recognized and awarded female country singers. In all, she has had 19 No. 1 singles, incl ...
titled "Girl Thang", which was among Wynette's final charting singles.
Although it did not chart in North America, ''Without Walls'' did reach number eight on the
ARIA
In music, an aria ( Italian: ; plural: ''arie'' , or ''arias'' in common usage, diminutive form arietta , plural ariette, or in English simply air) is a self-contained piece for one voice, with or without instrumental or orchestral accompa ...
charts in Australia. The project received mixed reviews.
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called it a "respect-laden series of duets", while biographer Jimmy McDonough called it "cringe-worthy". Health problems continued to affect Wynette into the 1990s as her dependence on prescription drugs increased. She often missed concerts because she was too ill to perform. In the mid-1990s, Wynette was hospitalized with a severe
that nearly led to her death. Wynette was visited by George Jones during her recovery, who encouraged her to record another album with him. The result was 1995's ''
''.
, the album reached number 12 on the ''Billboard'' country chart.
It was followed by a high-profile duet tour featuring Jones and Wynette as headliners.
In 1995, Wynette was dropped by her long-time label, Epic Records. Despite this, she continued to be a popular concert attraction until her death. During this period, she re-made the
. The song proved to be her final recording. Wynette's final concerts and television performances were held in March 1998.
Other works by Wynette have also appeared outside of music. In 1979, she published a book about her life with author Joan Dew. Released by
, it was titled ''Stand by Your Man: An Autobiography''.
Dew toured with Wynette in the 1970s and wrote down what Wynette told her verbatim.
Wynette's career also took shape through film and television. In 1981,
''. Directed by
. Both actors did their own singing for the roles. It was reviewed unfavorably by newspaper critics. ''The New York Times'' commented, "The rags-to-riches sagas, presumably meant to be inspiring, tend to get trapped under a cloud of dreariness," wrote John O'Connor. "Suspicious viewers may legitimately conclude that the whole Tammy Wynette story has yet to be told." Richard Harrington of ''The Washington Post'' wrote, "It seems to capitalize on the creative achievement and financial success of the Loretta Lynn film bio, '
.' Unfortunately, television will be television, and the results are lackluster and somewhat misleading."
In 1986, Wynette joined the cast of the CBS soap opera ''
'', playing the role of a hair stylist-turned-singer, Darlene Stankowski. It was her first major acting role.
...