Tammy Wynette, 55, a former beautician who became one of the legends of country music during a career that began in the 1960s and included much of the emotional travail of which she sang, died April 6, 1998 at her home in Nashville.
A spokeswoman for the Grand Ole Opry luminary told the Associated Press that she died while napping. The cause of death was believed to be a blood clot. Tammy had experienced many medical problems over the years.
Some of Tammy's greatest hits were "Stand By Your Man," "D-I-V-O-R-C-E," "I Don't Wanna Play House," "Womanhood," "Take Me to Your World," "Your Good Girl's Gonna Go Bad," "Singing My Song" and "The Ways to Love a Man." She recorded more than 50 albums and sold more than 30 million records.
In addition to her husband, survivors include five daughters, a son and seven grandchildren.
1942: May 5, Born Virginia Wynette Pugh in Itawamba County, Miss.; raised picking grandparents’ cotton.
1959: Married Euple Byrd a month before her high school graduation.
1961:Gave birth to daughter Gwen.
1962:Gave birth to daughter Jackie.
1963: Enrolls in beautician’s school in Tupelo, Mississippi.
1965:Gave birth to daughter Tina; divorced Euple Byrd. Sings daily on early-morning TV in Birmingham, Ala. while working as a beautician.
1966: Moves to Nashville; auditions for Billy Sherrill at Epic Records; he changes her name to Tammy Wynette; "Apartment #9," written by Johnny Paycheck, released as her debut single.
1967: Marries Don Chapel; records duets with David Houston; "Your Good Girl’s Gonna Go Bad"; becomes her first top-10 hit; "I Don’t Wanna Play House" her first No.1 hit and wins a Grammy.
1968: Divorce Don Chapel; "Stand By Your Man," "Take Me to Your World" and "D-I-V-O-R-C-E" all become No.1 hits. She becomes CMA Female Vocalist of the Year
1969: "Stand By Your Man" crosses over to pop-music top 20 and wins a Grammy Award; marries George Jones; wins CMA Female Vocalist of the Year, and ACM Top Female Vocalist.
1970:Gave birth to daughter Georgette ; once again CMA Female Vocalist of the Year; Jack Nicholson movie Five Easy Pieces Showcases her music throughout its soundtrack.
1971: Begins recording duets with Jones.
1973: "Til I Get It Right" hits No.1 on the charts.
1975:Divorces George Jones after a rocky marriage; "Stand By Your Man" becomes a No.1 British pop hit.
1976: Marries and divorces Michael Tomlin. "Golden Ring" and "Near You" become No.1 duet hits by George Jones and Tammy Wynette.
1978:Marries George Richey, who becomes her manager.
1979:Publishes autobiography Stand By Your Man.
1980:Records last duets with George Jones.
1982: Stages top-10 comeback with "Another Chance;" Stand By Your Man a successful TV movie.
1985:"Sometimes When We Touch" becomes top-10 duet hit with Mark Gray.
1986: Joins the cast of the CBS-TV soap opera Capitol; goes to Betty Ford Center to treat addiction to prescription pain medication.
1989: Duet "While the Feeling’s Good" with Wayne Newton.
1990:Burt Reynolds directs her music video "Let’s Call It a Day Today."
1991: Duets with Randy Travis on "We’re Strangers Again"; wins Living Legend Award.
1992: Creates international hit sensation "Justifies and Ancient" with the KLF; hits No.1 in 18 countries; demands apology from Hillary Clinton after disparaging remark about "Stand By Your Man."
1993: Stars in Two-hour CBS-TV special The Women of Country; records Honky Tonk Angels with Dolly Parton and Loretta Lynn; Tears of Fire boxed set of CDs commemorates career
1998: Became an angel.
