Wynette, Tammy (redirected from Tammy Wynette)

Wynette, Tammy (wīnĕt`), 1942–98, American singer and songwriter, often called "the first lady of country music," b. Itawamba, Co., Miss., as Virginia Wynette Pugh. She began singing on television in Birmingham, Ala., in 1965, and signed a recording contract after moving to Nashville in 1966. Her plaintive voice and melodic songs of life, love, and sorrow proved extremely popular, and she soon scored several hits including "D-I-V-O-R-C-E" and "Stand by Your Man" (both: 1968), the latter a chart-topping blockbuster she cowrote that became her signature tune. A major country artist from the 1960s to the 90s, Wynette achieved success as a single performer and in duets with a number of male country stars, notably George Jones, who was (1969–75) the third of her five husbands. During her career she racked up 20 number one hits, made more than 50 albums, and sold more than 30 million recordings. Her outstanding late albums include Honky Tonk Angels (1993), with fellow superstars Dolly Parton and Loretta Lynn, and One (1995), her last recording with Jones.

Bibliography

See her autobiography (1979).

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Wynette, Tammy

 orig. Virginia Wynette Pugh

(born May 5, 1942, Itawamba county, Miss., U.S.—died April 6, 1998, Nashville, Tenn.) U.S. country music singer. Her father, a musician, died when she was an infant, and her mother left her to be raised by grandparents. She worked as a beautician before appearing on Porter Wagoner's country music television show. In 1967–68 she had hits with “Your Good Girl's Gonna Go Bad,” “D-I-V-O-R-C-E,” and her anthem, “Stand by Your Man.” She was married to George Jones (1969–75), with whom she recorded many duet hits; despite their divorce, they continued to collaborate on recordings, including her last album, One (1996). She recorded 20 number-one country hits and 50 albums.