The first power couple in country music was George Jones and Tammy Wynette. Their relationship was characterized by both love and heartbreak, and as a result, they produced some exquisite music.
Jones’ battle with substance misuse led to the termination of the couple’s marriage, which lasted from 1969 to 1975. Tamela Georgette Jones Lennon was the only child they had together before they got divorced.
Wynette and Jones kept making music and touring even after getting divorced. Wynette’s untimely death at age 55 was brought on by the release of their final collaborative album, One, in 1995, three years earlier.
A six-episode limited series called George and Tammy, which premieres on Paramount+ on December 4, will now immortalize the country duo’s friendship. Wynette will be portrayed by actress Jessica Chastain, and Jones will be portrayed by actor Michael Shannon.
Here is everything you need to know about Tammy Wynette and George Jones’ relationship, from how they first met at a Nashville recording studio to the release of several duets.
Why Did George Jones And Tammy Wynette Divorce?
Wynette and Jones thought their union couldn’t withstand his drinking. Wynette allegedly claimed about their incident, “I was naggin’, and he was nippin’,” according to their biography.
Although they didn’t do the best job at sustaining long-term relationships, they made a fantastic musical partnership. They eventually reconciled despite the fact that she filed for divorce in 1973. She claimed that she intended to persuade Jones to give up drinking by giving him a deadline.
There’s no denying that Wynette’s marriage was challenging. The title of the “Stand By Your Man” singer also allegedly came to stand for the problems faced by women in country music, according to Reba McEntire.
How Did George Jones And Tammy Wynette Meet?
Wynette first thought Jones was kidnapping her when they first met at a recording studio in Nashville. They became so close that Jones eventually declared to Wynette his love during a disagreement with her husband. He was lucky that she shared his feelings for him.
Wynette chose Jones and made an effort to divorce her second husband. But as it turned out, she married him too early when her first marriage had been declared legally over. She was so formally divorced from her second husband.
Now that Jones was free, the “First Lady of Country” could be with him. When they exchanged vows in February 1969, it was their third marriage overall. With her first husband, Wynette had three daughters and one daughter with Jones.
Did They Get Back Together?
Fans were uncertain as to how long the pair had been dating. Wynette once shared a relationship with both Burt Reynolds, the actor, and her ex-husband. Her actions may have been intended to elicit one or both sorts of jealousy, according to some persons who knew her.
There were rumors Wynette covertly saw Reynolds after Wynette and Jones’ divorce was formally finalized in 1975. She insisted that even with everything he needed right in front of him, Jones was unable to experience joy, which is why she left him.
Wynette claimed that George was “one of those people who can’t handle happiness” (per biography). He has a tendency to mess up everything when it’s perfect, which hurts both him and me. Jones acknowledged how “ached” he was about the divorce, but he said, “I let Tammy have everything; I didn’t fight it.”
At age 4, Georgette’s parents, George and Tammy, divorced. They lived in Florida, where George was working long hours restoring an old plantation house and building a theme park centered on country music around it. His ambition was to be able to conclude his tour, quit traveling altogether, and perform just at home.
What Happened To George Jones And Tammy Wynette?
Tammy Wynette died of blood clots in her lungs on April 6, 1998, when she was 55 years old. Although George Jones overcame his alcoholism later in life, hypoxic respiratory failure ultimately claimed his life on April 26, 2013.
According to the Los Angeles Times, George Jones spent less than a week in the hospital due to a fever and irregular blood pressure before passing away at the age of 81 in Nashville 15 years later. Georgette wrote a heartfelt letter to her deceased parents in remembrance of Jones’ hypothetical 91st birthday.