Tammy Wynette
Tammy Wynette (May 5, 1942–April 6, 1998) was an American country music singer and songwriter. Born Virginia Wynette Pugh in Itawamba County, Mississippi, she worked as a cotton picker and licensed beautician before relocating to Nashville in 1966 to pursue a musical career. She was signed to Epic Records by producer Billy Sherrill, who became her primary creative partner. She achieved instant commercial success with her debut chart hits. During the late 1960s and 1970s, she brought a distinct woman's perspective to popular country music, securing 20 number-one singles on the Billboard country charts with recordings like "D-I-V-O-R-C-E" and her self-penned masterpiece "Stand by Your Man" (1968), which became one of the best-selling singles in the history of the genre. Her highly publicized, tempestuous marriage to honky-tonk icon George Jones (1969–1975) resulted in a legendary series of duet albums and chart-topping collaborations. She became the first female country artist to achieve a million-selling album, eventually moving over 30 million records globally. Her achievements were recognized with two Grammy Awards and three consecutive Country Music Association Female Vocalist of the Year awards. She was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1998.