Tammy Wynette

Tragic Country Queen

By: Jimmy McDonough

Narrated by: Robertson Dean

The 20th century had three great female singers who plumbed the darkest corners of their hearts and transformed private grief into public dramas. In opera, there was the unsurpassed Maria Callas. In jazz, the tormented Billie Holiday. And in country music, there was Tammy Wynette.

“Stand by Your Man,” “D-I-V-O-R-C-E,” “Take Me to Your World” are but a few highlights of Tammy Wynette’s staggering musical legacy, all sung with a voice that became the touchstone for women’s vulnerability, disillusionment, strength, and endurance.

In Tammy Wynette, best-selling biographer Jimmy McDonough tells the story of the small-town girl who grew up to be the woman behind the microphone, whose meteoric rise led to a decades-long career full of tragedy and triumph. Through a high-profile marriage and divorce, her dreadful battle with addiction and illness, and the struggle to compete in a rapidly evolving Nashville, Tammy Wynette turned a brave smile toward the world and churned out masterful hit songs though her life resembled the most heartbreaking among them.

Tammy Wynette is an intimate portrait of a music icon, the Queen of Heartbreak, whose powerful voice simultaneously evoked universal pain and longing even as it belied her own.

©2010 Jimmy McDonough (P)2010 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

The twentieth century had three great female singers who plumbed the darkest corners of their hearts and transformed private grief into public dramas. In opera, there was the unsurpassed Maria Callas. In jazz, the tormented Billie Holiday. And in country music, there was Tammy Wynette.

“McDonough brings a passionate flair to his language….Combining pop musicology and tabloid gossip, McDonough has crafted a fitting tribute to a country music icon.” ( Publishers Weekly)

“This engaging and potentially controversial study of one of the most significant singers in the history of country music is essential for fans of Wynette and the genre.” ( Library Journal)

Heart wrenching

Very well written and
Interesting all through the book
The end was haunting
The only singer I ever saw my grandma cry over
And now I see how

Great book

I love Tammy and to hear these stories it made me smile and sad for her at time. She was a great legend.

A must read/Listen for any Country Fan.

This book was exactly what I was hoping for and more. I am already a big George Jones and Tammy Wynette fan. I was looking for a book to read/ listen to that would teach me things I didn't know about them. Wow!! I was blown away. This book is incredibly detailed. it covers not just Tammy , but George Jones and Billy Sherill in great detail as well. I loved this book. The narrator did a great job too. He does voices for when George , Tammy and others. its pretty funny.

I think what i had hoped to gain from the book was personal insight into what it was like to be around George and Tammy and the book delivered perfectly with many tall tales and shared memories from countless first hand sources. There are many Tales from the Tour Bus type moments in the book. I recommend listening to this book with YouTube open. Many of the stories can be made even better if you pause to listen to a song or watch a live performance being discussed. Get ready for a fun ride.

Compelling, but occasionally oddly written.

A very compelling and revealing biography, even though it's clear that Tammy took many of her secrets and story with her, leaving volumes never to be written.
While largely well written, it can be a bit exhaustive when describing some of the important people in her life, or rather, some of the information isn't well integrated into the narrative. Rather, the story screeches to a halt for long asides/biographies of people like Billy Sherill, George Jones, etc.
The author also occasionally makes odd asides, as he describes his own thoughts and opinions on Tammy Wynette as if he were also part of the narrative. It has the effect of a director suddenly walking into frame to tell you his opinions of the shot you just saw. It often comes off as very narcissistic, and once again, brings the narrative to a screeching halt. Still, despite these flaws, you get as complete and honest a picture of Wynette, with both the bad as well as the good, as you're ever likely to get, and despite its occasional lapses, it is well written.
The narrator is good, just a bit slow in his delivery, so I recommend cranking the speed to around 1.40 times the usual.

Good Book! Tragic Story!

Great book. I wish Tammy Wynette had lived a happier life. She deserved so much more out of life. This book is great and very detailed. Great read!