Tammy Wynette

Critics call her a legend, fans a heroine, but the names she loved most are what she was first: Tammy Wynette, wife and mother.

Tammy Wynette’s journey to stardom began far from the bright lights of Nashville. Born Virginia Wynette Pugh on a Mississippi cotton farm, she discovered music through the piano and guitar her father left behind. Singing became her escape from the hard labor of farm life, fueling dreams of one day performing before thousands. That determination carried her through years of struggle, as she worked a series of jobs while nurturing her passion for music.

By 1966, after repeated rejections, Wynette made the bold move to Nashville with three young children and no safety net. Her perseverance paid off when producer Billy Sherrill of Epic Records signed her and encouraged her to take the stage name “Tammy.” Her debut single, “Apartment #9,” quickly made the charts, and her next 11 albums each reached number one. In just four years, she earned two Grammy Awards and three CMA “Female Vocalist of the Year” titles, firmly establishing herself as one of country music’s leading voices.

Over her career, Tammy Wynette sold more than 30 million records, with “Stand By Your Man” becoming the best-selling single in country music history. Known as the “First Lady of Country Music,” she gave voice to heartbreak, love, and resilience with unmatched sincerity. Her emotional performances, drawn from her own life’s trials, made her one of the most beloved and influential artists in country music history.