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Sad and Slow
Five divorces, 30 operations--Tammy Wynette's life was anything but easy.
Most of these ladies have had their stories toldnow comes Jimmy McDonough’s (Shakey) with a full-bodied account of Wynette, Tammy Wynette: The Tragic Country Queen (Viking). Certainly her talent and choice of slow balladsStand by Your Man, D-I-V-O-R-C-E, Take Me to Your Worldallowed her to break out of ghettoized music charts to become the first country singer to have a platinum record. She went on to chart 20 number-one hit records before her death in 1998.
Along with this unparalleled success came five marriages, and health problems (she had over 30 operations for chronic stomach pain) that also led to painkiller addiction. All of which no doubt contributed to her own personal drama. McDonough notes, I have a theory that great artists learn how to do one thing great. And that’s Tammy. In terms of a slow, sad song, nobody could rip it up like Tammy. She is just unrelenting.
So is this gripping story of the First Lady of Country Music, Tammy Wynette.