Biography of Tammy Wynette

One of the major voices in country history, male or female, Tammy Wynette has had eleven #1 albums and thirty-five #1 singles (21 in a row) in a career that has produced at least two country standards: "Stand by Your Man" and "D-I-V-O-R-C-E," both from 1968. She and the great Loretta Lynn alternated in the 60s and early 70s as country music's most popular female singer. Along the way Wynette married George Jones, the singer's singer, resulting in duets as great as have been sung, including "We're Gonna Hold On," "Near You," and "Golden Ring." In spite of these song titles, Mr. and Mrs. Country Music labored through a turbulent relationship, beautiful harmony coming in the songs only, and were divorced in 1975. (A 1982 film, Stand by Your Man, tells of Wynette's heartaches.) Wynette remains in demand: she appears on a 1991 album by the British rap duo KLF. Her exceptional voice is as good as it's ever been. ~ David Vinopal