Tammy Wynette: Tragic Country Queen

by Jimmy McDonough

The first full-scale biography of the enduring first lady of country music

The twentieth century had three great female singers who plumbed the darkest corners of their hearts and transformed private grief into public dramas. In opera, there was the unsurpassed Maria Callas. In jazz, the tormented Billie Holiday. And in country music, there was Tammy Wynette.

"Stand by Your Man," "D-I-V-O-R-C-E," "Take Me to Your World" are but a few highlights of Tammy's staggering musical legacy, all sung with a voice that became the touchtone for women's vulnerability, disillusionment, strength, and endurance.

In Tammy Wynette, bestselling biographer Jimmy McDonough tells the story of the small-town girl who grew up to be the woman behind the microphone, whose meteoric rise led to a decades-long career full of tragedy and triumph. Through a high-profile marriage and divorce, her dreadful battle with addiction and illness, and the struggle to compete in a rapidly evolving Nashville, Tammy turned a brave smile toward the world and churned out masterful hit songs though her life resembled the most heartbreaking among them.

Tammy Wynette is an intimate portrait of a music icon, the Queen of Heartbreak, whose powerful voice simultaneously evoked universal pain and longing even as it belied her own.

Genres: Biography, Music, Nonfiction, Biography Memoir, Celebrity, Audiobook, Memoir

432 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2010

Reviews

[Beth Newman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I only intended to read a couple of chapters last night, and ended up reading the whole darn thing.

Country music fans will probably agree that Tammy Wynette had one of the most haunting voices of any artist of any genre. After reading this book, it's clear to see that she led a haunted life.

The author, Jimmy McDonough, recounts with great detail Tammy's humble beginnings and her drive to succeed in country music. Interviews with legends such as Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, and Tammy's ex-husband, George Jones, confirm that Tammy was a much-loved yet complex character. With myriad awards, five husbands, and four daughters, her story truly paints a picture of the highs and lows of fame.

What enthralled me the most, however, was the extent of Tammy's prescription drug use, the questionable acts of her last husband, George Ritchy, and the mystery that still surrounds her death.

This is not one of those celebrity biographies that leads us to believe that our heroine is completely innocent. McDonough writes objectively about Tammy. She is not without fault, particularly during her heyday. She does, however, come across as a tragic figure in the end: she placed her trust in the wrong people, as many celebrities do, and it is unfortunate that hers was not one of the 'they-all-lived-happily-ever-after' type stories.

Yet the shortcomings revealed in the book have no affect on me as a fan. In fact, I have a renewed appreciation for her artistry.

If you are a fan of Tammy Wynette, I encourage you to read this one. Fans of country music should take note of it as well, for it reveals the dark side of what we perceive as 'simple music by simple folks', and there's some great gossip in there to boot.

Rest-in-peace, Tammy, and take comfort in knowing that you live on through your music.

[Kristy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would venture to predict that even if you don't love Tammy Wynette, you would probably have a good time reading Jimmy McDonough's thoroughly researched and eccentrically told biography of the country music superstar. He gives us the full scope of Tammy's life and career -- her small town southern upbringing, her rise to stardom, her entertaining (and generally unlucky) love life, her tragic struggle with pain and painkillers, and her early death. He is obviously a superfan, but also looks straightforwardly at Wynette's less attractive personality traits and the low-points of her recording career. His interviews with the friends, producers, fellow musicians, friends, and hairdressers that surrounded Tammy during her life fill the book with humor and honesty, and I love that he extensively uses direct quotes that capture the personalities of the speakers. And because you couldn't tell the story of Tammy Wynette without George Jones, you get quite a bit of the Badger and his wild ways in the course of the narrative. While much of the book is straightforward and chronological, McDonough's unique writing style steals the show. Below is just one of many examples that were so evocative that I immediately started googling to see a performance, photograph, or album cover for myself. If you love Tammy, country music, or fun writing, this is the book for you.

"There is a gleefully voyeuristic 1972 performance of the song taped at the Ryman for the show That Good Ole Nashville Music. Lurking before the minister is a sad, scary Tammy at her most bewitchingly Gothic, sporting a big ol' blonde wig, Magic Marker eyeliner, and a strange amulet-like copper necklace she must've lifted off a Druid. Man, does she look hot. And in a slightly cubist Western suit, there's George, looking more resigned than agitated, his gleaming eyes staring at some offstage ghost. This is one of those classic 'happy' country records that manages to sound quite the opposite. A deathly serious business, marriage." (p. 186)

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent biography of country music star Tammy Wynette. McDonough has clearly done his research, and has interviewed several people who had apparently never before given full interviews, like Tammy's second husband. He also has a good ear for humor, and gets some really funny anecdotes out of his interviews, especially about Wynette's third husband George Jones.

It would have been nice, though, if McDonough had resisted his many impulses to descend into bathos -- for example, his letters composed to the dead Tammy, floridly proclaiming how much he admired her, how sad he found her life, and how he wished better for her. Fact is, McDonough isn't an especially gifted writer, so replacing the Rod McKuen impression with some good old-fashioned "just the facts ma'am" prose would have served him far better.

Still, an interesting look into the rather sad life of this musical icon.

[aya · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of the most atrociously written books i've ever read, but who reads a biography for the prose? (but really? open letters to tammy from the author? really?) aside from the writing and abundance of superfluous information and footnotes, what's great about this book is that McDonough is obsessed with Tammy. And even through this obsession, he is able to keep a relatively objective view of her.
I had only heard how so many men treated her badly, so was very surprised to learn that she was just as crazy as george jones and many of her other husbands. Wish her marriage with jones had been fleshed out more--the way it was written, i barely got a glimpse of their relationship while married.
looooooooove tammy, though!!!!!

[Koren · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like country music or if you are a Tammy fan you will like this book. I am not a Tammy fan but I like to read about the country music business. The research in this book is impeccable and the book ends with 29 pages of source notes. I really liked how the author points out things from his sources that dont jive with what Tammy wrote in her own autobiography, although I think that is a difference in perspective and not because it was not the truth. While Tammy is given the title 'tragic country queen', a lot of the tragedy in her life was because of choices she made, so I would say it was tragic that her life should have been a lot happier but wasn't.

[Michael Porter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read Tammy Wynette’s autobiographical novel, and I read her Daughter’s story on her Mother’s life. This book was ever better than both of those put together.

Mr. McDonough dug very deep and told a wonderful story about Tammy’s life. I enjoyed every word of it; with the exception of sometimes he was highly critical of her. Unnecessarily I might add.

I mean, I take expectation with Tammy over how she treated her kids. You should never choose a man over your kids, but Tammy Wynette always needed a man in her life. She was never happy with the one she chose, but she wasn't happy with one husband.

Now, Jimmy profuse to like Tammy McDonough, but I found him particularly critical of her dress and sometimes her voice. I was not interested in what he thought of Tammy Wynette, but I did desire to know what she did and why did some of the things she did.

I would read this book again, it was really that good. And Jimmy McDonough is a good author. If I am not mistaken there are only three books about Tammy Wynette, and I have read them all.

[Annie Booker · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a little biased in its perspective as the writer is such a huge fan of Tammy's that he seems to put her high up on a pedestal and puts all the blame for what happened to her on others. I'm a big fan of Tammy's too but she was human and her own human foibles like the rest of us I'm sure. It was interesting finding out more about her early years and her time with George Jones but this wasn't the best bio, imo.

[Todd Melby · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author can turn a phrase and knows where to focus his attention. Great anecdotes. Detailed where it needs to be and simply a joy. (I read it a few years ago and remember underling many great sentences and crazy anecdotes, including one about George Jones being so drunk he got his hair permed into an afro.)

[Karyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a very slow read. Not as interesting as I thought it would be. A little too repetitious for me.

[Juliahoney Kamenker · Rating 4 out of 5]

very good but sad

[Sasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

After finishing a book like this, one must face his own darn curiosity. Curiosity that leads us to any celebrity biography in the first place. There is this dilemma - any book that is too fawning, we dismiss as irrelevant. On the other hand, if the details are too seedy, we would rather not really know it. The truth is, every life could be described either way, it just depends on a point of view. It might come as surprise, but in the right hands your own life could turn into sordid bestseller full to the brim with testimonies from every schoolmate who remembers you in unflattering light. In such literary reinterpretations, shock value might be bigger if the subject was really careful about outside appearance and propriety - if we find that someone as Willie Nelson (for example) smokes joints, its not a big deal but if elegantly poised Tammy Wynette got stoned on Marihuana (and enjoyed herself very much, playing Hank Williams and dancing around the living room) now we are talking. This is why we read celebrity biographies, even if afterwards we wish we didn't. Sometimes some things are impossible to get out of our heads.

Wynette, of course is a perfect subject for biography - not only because of her important role in a music or even as a public figure, but because there is always some mystery about her - McDonough might have interviewed every single person who ever met her and still the impression is one where the people he talked with are alive while Wynette, like some vague dream, is elusive. Some might object that author was too starry-eyed (he even includes his letters to Tammy) but it was this life-long passion about the subject that drove him to write the book and after all, the lady didn't have such meticulously researched biography so far. Nitpick all you want but there was no one else taking this so seriously, McDonough did some serious research and has talked to hundreds of people - including the childhood friends, musicians, colleagues and the surviving husbands, except the last one, George Richey (and between the lines you can feel author's frustration because of it). If there is a fault, it is in the way McDonough feels the need to explain and portrait each and every one of them, so in order to explain their background he might occasionally appear long-winded, it comes to the point where reader expect a chapter for every of Wynette's hairdressers. On a positive note, the book gives you a perfect portrait of 1960s Nashville, the business, the glamour, the trash, the way country music was initially perceived as a embarrassment to some wealthier citizens who thought this reflect badly on town - one of the first reporters who wrote seriously about country music was Jack Hurst, who started writing appreciatively about these artists and like many others, he only has positive things to say about Wynette.

You don't need the book to intuitively understand that Wynette was bruised butterfly - it is there, forever imprinted in every note of music she ever recorded and curiously that voice still has power to stop the listener dead in the track. McDonough lovingly goes about standout songs from her catalogue and explains why they mean so much to him but after all, this is still a highly subjective matter - what he dismiss as inconsequent actually is unforgettable for me personally. What is certain is that Wynette's power, talent and intensity was felt from the start even by jaded studio musicians who intuitively understood this is somebody special. Author also explains how the music business eventually changed and inevitably the old guard came to be replaced not just with new generation but with with different values.

Ultimately the reader must come to his own conclusions who this lady have been - there are funny anecdotes, riveting stories, professional jealousies, hypocrites and exploiters, sycophants and fake friends who simply relished being associated with her fame but wouldn't bat an eyelash towards the end of her life when it became obvious that Wynette was too sick to work. The music and the magic Wynette left behind will always be more important than any of the informations you might find in the book - just be warned, some of it might leave a bitter aftertaste and you might wish that you didn't know it.

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like his Neil Young and Al Green biographies, McDonough's book about Tammy Wynette is a gripping, funny, and occasionally disturbing read about a unique music legend, but Wynette's tale is ultimately much sadder and more haunted, like her best songs. Marrying at 17 to get out from under the thumb of her loving but controlling mother, then running off to Birmingham, Alabama, to get away from her loving but controlling first husband and a life of domestic boredom, Wynette finally made it to Nashville at the age of 25 where she endured a year of rejection and hard-scrabble living before hitting the country music big-time the following year. Wynette had a great and creatively fulfilling career in the '60s, '70s, and early '80s, but once Nashville slowly morphed from raw, authentic country made by artists with life experience and a strong point-of-view on a fast, cheap, and no-frills recording schedule to the soulless, overly smooth, corporate, generic, expensive product it became, she was poorly served by her record company and the hits mostly disappeared, though she was still a popular live act. Plagued by many painful chronic health problems, a serious painkiller addiction she was never able to kick, mysteriously unsolved crimes directed toward her (vandalism, phone threats, and an attempted kidnapping, which may have been publicity stunts, pleas for attention, and/or attempts to cover up domestic violence), and several volatile marriages, Wynette's last fifteen years are a sad, slow decline, particularly her extremely disturbing final marriage to George Richey, a songwriter/producer/former musical director for Hee-Haw whose once-successful career had stalled and who becomes her manager/gatekeeper/exploiter. Even in the dark days, Wynette's life was full of adventure, great performances, comedy, and oddball events (including her collaboration with The KLF), and it was heartwarming reading about the close, supportive friendship with ex-husband George Jones and his wife Nancy in the last few years of her life (though the Jones/Wynette marriage was great for both of them creatively, it was mostly a nightmare domestically -- Jones was a different man once he kicked drugs and tapered off the booze). McDonough is an eccentric, entertaining writer and a meticulous researcher. He's a good fit to tell Wynette's wild story, and he also devotes plenty of ink to the musicians, songwriters, and producers surrounding her, which I appreciate as a music fanatic myself. McDonough also has a knack for digging up weird, hilarious details other biographers might skip over, my favorites in this book including the many strange details of local Birmingham television's Country Boy Eddie show (airing from 5-7 a.m. for 38 years), the night a drunken George Jones decided he and everyone in his entourage needed to get Afros (a horrified Jones the next morning: "I look like a Keekadoo from Kookamoo"), and Wynette's obsession with the movie Casino. Good stuff.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished reading the book “TAMMY WYNETTE: TRAGIC COUNTRY QUEEN” by JIMMY MCDONOUGH. I read this book while listening to the audible version narrated by the author ALAN MUNRO. It is #38 in my AROUND THE YEAR IN 52 BOOKS BOOKCLUB (a book with a character who can be found in a deck of cards). The twentieth century had three great female singers who plumbed the darkest corners of their hearts and transformed private grief into public dramas. In opera, there was the unsurpassed Maria Callas. In jazz, the tormented Billie Holiday. And in country music, there was Tammy Wynette. "Stand by Your Man," "D-I-V-O-R-C-E," "Take Me to Your World" are but a few highlights of Tammy's staggering musical legacy, all sung with a voice that became the touchtone for women's vulnerability, disillusionment, strength, and endurance. In Tammy Wynette, bestselling biographer Jimmy McDonough tells the story of the small-town girl who grew up to be the woman behind the microphone, whose meteoric rise led to a decades-long career full of tragedy and triumph. Through a high-profile marriage and divorce, her dreadful battle with addiction and illness, and the struggle to compete in a rapidly evolving Nashville, Tammy turned a brave smile toward the world and churned out masterful hit songs though her life resembled the most heartbreaking among them. Tammy Wynette is an intimate portrait of a music icon, the Queen of Heartbreak, whose powerful voice simultaneously evoked universal pain and longing even as it belied her own. I loved this book as it tells the truth about this wonderful singer, the good and the bad. I also watched the movie “STAND BY YOUR MAN” about her life with George Jones and enjoyed it very much.

[Dena · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did the audiobook version of this, and while at times it was quite interesting, other times it was frustrating with the narrators monotone voice and mispronounced words (like Tonya Tucker instead of Tanya Tucker).

May contain spoilers below:

It was rather informative. I wasn't aware that Tammy was so heavily addicted to pain killers, and I remember seeing her during that time later in her life and she looked really bad. Sunken cheeks, bulging eyes, dark circles under her eyes.

It also shed new light on her relationship with Richey. I had read Tammy's autobiography some years ago and remembered many things that this book talks about, but her relationship with Richey really made me wonder if she was more a hostage than she was a wife. I always felt he was jealous of her and jealous of her and Jones' relationship and that he was the type of person who would harm her. Just my opinion though, but he manipulated her and lost all of her money with his shady dealings. Again, just my opinion. Growing up around Music City, something always felt a little off about him. It's compounded even more so after reading this book.

[Stephen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The style made this book painful to read: tasteless comments like "she'd lost a tremendous amount of weight, which left her withsunken cheeks and the bug-eyed look of some ancient vaudeville comic" litter the pages. But it's full to the brim with details not only about Wynette's life and career, but also about George Jones and some people who were previously just names to me, like Billy Sherrill. (The Billy Sherrill chapter was probably the best in the whole book.) McDonough seems to have done his homework, at least. He clearly, however, has an emotional attachment to Wynette, and perhaps a biographer needs that, but in this case I wonder why his editor didn't trim more of the fat. I don't regret reading it, but I'll never read it again and probably won't keep the copy I bought (I'm glad it didn't cost more than $10). 2.5 stars.

[Cat Rayne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Can’t really say I am a Tammy Wynette fan, per se, but there has always been an appreciation for her unique voice and style in the midst of her peers.

Author Jimmy McDonough does a adequate job and clearly did his research. The book occasionally veered off course in focus of Tammy and gave insight into George Jones, but their connection was tight, so acceptable.

It was a teeny odd, the “letters” that McDonough included in the book that would wrap a particular chapter. He was writing to her postmortem of course, and it was, strange. His writing style was borderline prose not usually found in a biography.

Tammy’s story is of another well-known celebrity who was insecure and allowed many to take advantage of her. It ended on a sad note.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't read many music biographies, but I'm always interested in larger than life characters from entertainment, and already being a fan of Wynette, I gave this a go. I wasn't disappointed. Wynette (and many in her orbit at that time) seems like a total crackpot, and I really enjoyed the author's reverent but sometimes snarky attitude toward many of the stories about her, and some of her music. This is not only an entertaining biography of someone's life, who, by all accounts, was a serial liar and isn't really knowable, but also an insightful tracking of how country music and Nashville changed over the decades. I think the best biographies place their subject firmly within the social context of how they were formed and influenced, and this book does that well.

[Naomi Krokowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tammy Wynette was a talented and complex person, and McDonough has honored her work and life with the thoroughness she deserved. He took tons of interviews and source material and wove it onto a colorful tapestry that is quite compelling.
I’m reminded of Aretha Franklin when I listen to Wynette- chill bumps are mixed with confusion. How does someone sing their pain so thoroughly?! McDonough has proper respect for Wynette’s collaborators, mentors, and friends. He does not sugar coat any of the sad and complicated reasons she struggled. He gives us layers to Tammy and her tragedy, and it makes for highly compelling reading.

[A Cesspool · Rating 3 out of 5]

Part of me's natively perturbed that it isn't more notorious Wynette was Eugene Landy'd (à la Brian Wilson) to death; But that can be easily dismissed if considering Tammy would have eventually succumbed to vampires regardless; She wouldn't have it any other way unfortunately.

McDonough makes it plain: Tammy Wynette had to have a man in her life.

If it wasn't George The Richeys, it'd be another parasite aping paramour, e.g. Michael Tomlin

Still deplorable she couldn't provide for her daughters (grandchildren) -- later in life, but ultimately, thereafter

[Tim Armstrong · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book much more on the second reading. After reading Cocaine and Rhinestones: A History of George Jones and Tammy Wynette I felt like I wanted to read more about Tammy Wynette so I gave this book another go. The "talking to Tammy" portions are still a strange choice but overall I think this book is a great look at the sad, tragic and contradictory life that Tammy Wynette lived.

[Kathy Johnston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truth telling book

I got interested in reading Tammy and George books after the Showtime series came on. According to the people that knew Tammy best, maybe the screenwriter should have done more research into their lives. The Showtime series is mostly fiction with a vein a truth running through it. This book tells Tammy’s story told from the people who knew her best. The story is backed up by interviews that knew Tammy best. If you want to know the “true” story, read this book.

[Cigno · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wildly tragic and somewhat relatable. The author tells the story of Tammy Wynette in the fashion of a novel. The reader cannot help but continue to turn the page. There is no hero (anti-hero at best), but there are plenty of villains, sidekicks, and minions. But most of all, there are humans…and that is what I think draws the reader in. There are myriad ways, as a reader, to be drawn in and identify with any of the dozens of people described in the biography of this country legend.

[Sarina Gunnerson · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 I really enjoyed most of this book, even though I'm not a huge Tammy Wynette fan. A lot of the book is dedicated to the life stories of the two Georges she was married to. It seems she kept a lot close to the chest and it was a chore deciding what to believe when she did tell her story to the public.

[Sarah]

DNF. As is the case with so many biographies, in this one there's some interesting info mixed in with all of the quotes and references and research by the author, and to me It doesn't seem personal. It doesn't really feel as if it's about Tammy Wynette; instead it's a conglomerate of research, and that isn't my thing.

[Angela Watts · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful story of a moving singer. A heart breaking story. You think people who are rich and famous have a wonderful exciting life. But as they say, only the people involved really know what goes on behind closed doors. Tammy Wynette was a beautiful wonderful lady of inspiration to those who loved her and her music. We were blessed with her voice in our lives.

[Ramona Hooper · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wish I had not wasted my money .

This book has too much information about so many other people I did not feel I was even ready just about Tammy Wynette. I felt there was too many stories about the other people in her life. Wish the book had more in it just about Tammy's life not everyone else. I had to skip through so many pages to pick up about Tammy's life.

[Marie Kruse · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an easy read and will not leave you wondering if there is anything else you need to know about Tammy Wynette. The book gives details about her birth till her death and everything in between. I think everyone she ever crossed paths with is woven into this book. I would suggest you read this book first before you watch GEORGE & TAMMY. (I didn't, and wished I had.)

[Will George · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was never a big fan of Tammy Wynette, and this book didn’t convert me. She did have a fascinating, if sad, life. But I guess the fact that I’m not really very interested in her music contributed to how long it took me to finish this book (I read several others while reading this). The author is certainly sympathetic, and did his research and interviews. And I did learn a lot.

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautifully warm and ultimately heartrending biography, written with love and respect for its subject—without being anything like a mere hagiography—and deep empathy. Kudos to McDonough, he's a smart and passionate writer. He made me really love Tammy and cry a little for her bitter, awful end.

[Abbey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this. I felt like I learned everything I would’ve wanted to know about Tammy.