Tammy Wynette

Tammy Wynette was born Virginia Wynette Pugh in Mississippi in 1942. She moved to Nashville as a young woman and signed with Epic Records in 1966. Her 1968 recording of 'Stand By Your Man' became a massive hit, spending three weeks at number one on the country charts and crossing over to the pop top ten.

That song, along with others like 'D-I-V-O-R-C-E' and ''Til I Can Make It on My Own,' defined her sound. She worked closely with producer Billy Sherrill, who helped shape the polished, emotionally direct style of her recordings. Her voice had a particular ache that suited songs about heartbreak and endurance.

Wynette's personal life was often turbulent, including a well-documented marriage to George Jones and struggles with health. She died in 1998.