Tammy Wynette, an American country music icon, was not only an accomplished singer but also an actress and author. She is widely recognized as one of the most impactful and triumphant artists in the genre. Alongside Loretta Lynn, Wynette was a pioneer in introducing a woman’s viewpoint to the male-dominated country music landscape, paving the way for other women to be acknowledged and respected in the industry.
The iconic figure in country music tied the knot five times in total, and her briefest union is said to have lasted for a period of fewer than two months. Here in this post, we’ll take a closer look at her five marriages.
Tammy Wynette Had Been Married Five Times: Know All About Her Marriages
Euple Byrd
At the age of 18 in 1960, Tammy Wynette got married to Euple. He was a construction worker with an unstable employment history, which resulted in them relocating frequently. Two years later, at the age of 20, Wynette became a mother of two daughters.
During her pregnancy with their third child, she made up her mind to separate from Byrd. In 1966, Wynette left her husband and relocated to Nashville with her children, hoping to kickstart her career as a singer.
Don Chapel
Tammy Wynette met her second husband, Don Chapel, after relocating to Nashville in 1965. Chapel worked as a front desk attendant at the Red Anchor Motel where Wynette was residing. After a lengthy courtship, the couple tied the knot in 1967, but their marriage was short-lived due to Wynette’s growing feelings for another man, which led to their divorce in 1968.
In her autobiography, Wynette claimed that Chapel had taken and traded her inappropriate pictures to other male colleagues, but Chapel denied the accusations and sued Wynette for 37 million dollars. Don Chapel passed away in 2015.
George Jones
From 1969 to 1975, George Jones and Tammy Wynette were married and regarded as country music’s power couple. Together, they had one daughter. Unfortunately, their marriage came to an end as a result of Jones’ battle with substance abuse. Despite the divorce, the two occasionally collaborated on music for many years to come.
Michael Tomlin
After a series of short-lived relationships, Tammy married a businessman named Michael Tomlin in 1977. However, according to the Cocaine and Rhinestones podcast, Tomlin was dating her hairdresser while she was seeing other men before they got together. Their marriage didn’t last long and they reportedly separated after less than two months.
George Richey
Richey had a background in songwriting, music publishing, and record producing before he married Tammy, with whom he had a pre-existing professional relationship. He expressed his love for her after a recording session, and they tied the knot in 1978.
Although Tammy publicly professed her love for Richey, her loved ones claimed that she regretted their union due to his emotionally abusive behavior. Despite this, they remained together until her unexpected passing in 1998. After Tammy’s death, Richey remarried Sheila Slaughter, a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader, in 2001, and he passed away in 2010 at the age of 74.