Tragic Facts About Tammy Wynette, The First Lady Of Country
Fans the world over loved Tammy Wynette's music and her unmistakably powerful singing voice. But what they might not have realized was that the woman behind those classic songs lived a terribly tragic life.
1. She Had A Tragic Beginning
From the very beginning, Tammy Wynette’s life was far from an easy one. When she was only nine months old, her father William—an aspiring musician—received a tragic diagnosis. He had a brain tumor. Faced with the reality of his short life and broken dreams, he introduced little Tammy to the piano and made a harrowing request.
2. She Had A Broken Family
Wynette’s father wanted her to learn piano once she grew old enough, but he had no clue just how deeply music would rule his daughter’s destiny. Following his demise, the family broke apart and stitched itself back together in new ways.
Her mother left her in the care of her grandparents. Growing up on a Mississippi farm, her roots were undeniably humble—but it was clear from the get-go that Wynette had a rebellious nature.
3. She Was A Rebel
In high school, Tammy Wynette was already the belle of the ball—but her popularity got her into all sorts of trouble. As one of the cool girls, Wynette started smoking and even became interested in dating boys, to her mother’s chagrin. This is where the teen’s naughty side really reared its sneaky head. You see, Wynette had a secret romance.
4. She Kept Him A Secret
In the early 60s, Wynette fell in love for the first time with a boy from church, Billy Cole. What’s more? She was utterly determined to marry Cole. To keep her mother in the dark, Wynette mail-ordered some inexpensive rings and had them sent to her high school. But despite all this trouble, her mother still discovered her scandalous plan.
