Country music legend Tammy Wynette sits down with John Tesh. A very intimate & insightful interview. Tammy Wynette's real name was Virginia Wynette Pugh (May 5, 1942 -- April 6, 1998).
I met Tammy in either 96 or 97 not long before she passed away. She and Jan Howard came walking in the restaurant I waited tables at called Sylvan Park in Green Hills, Nashville on Bandywood Drive. I thought my heart was going to stop when they sat in my station. I will never forget that day and the things she said to me. She was sweet and joked about me dropping things bc I was so nervous. She said she was no different than anyone else and that if I spilled anything just don't spill it on her 12 dollar k mart shoes. She calmed my nerves so fast and it was such a fun experience for me. I met a lot of country music stars at Sylvsn Park. I waited on Pam Tillis many times. She said she came for the biscuits bc they were just like the ones her mother made. I waited on Bill Anderson once. He said to me, "the last time I met anyone with eyes as pretty as yours I married her." I waited on Wynonna who was covered in black. Black clothes, black shoes, black hat, dark glasses so that she wouldn't be recognized. Her long red hair gave her away. I asked her if she was Wynonna and it ticked her off. She slammed her keys on the table and said, "you got me!" But she was in a bad mood before she came in. We watched her boyfriend and her have a heated argument in the parking lot. Lol. After they ate several girls that I worked with and myself asked for an autograph. She said to me as she was leaving, "I tell you what, write down everyones name and I'll send y'all pictures." (Wynonna, if you ever see this we never got a picture. We didn't really think we would. But its okay. We all have bad days. (I met George Jones at a different restaurant but not inside the restaurant. His bus driver came there often and kept saying he drove for George but I didn't believe him. But one day he parked the bus over to the side in the ally and came inside and got me to come outside. The door on the bus opened and there sat the possum in the drivers seat. He said, "I think I'm here to prove this ole boy drives me around places." The only time in my life I was speechless for a minute. He was really nice. He said our food was the best he could find around here and to tell the cook. We talked about 5 minutes mostly me talking about his beautiful bus. He asked me if I wanted to come inside and look around but I said I couldn't because I had customers inside that I had walked out on.... Another special day for me. This restaurant is still there. Wendell Smiths. Really good southern food still. I don't know if Dolly Pardon still does this but back then she sent someone over often to get her some turnip greens. I was always wishing she would come get them herself. Okay, I just wanted to share some of my stories. Oh, I have more. Lol I've met a lot of country music stars by being a waitress. They seem to love southern cooking. ❤
Love the stories ! of the great’s when country music! Was county. This generation of Nashville pop scene, could walk in Walmart! And no one would care.
I met her in 1969 at Ponderosa Park..it was a campground that had Country stars on the weekends ..I turned 12 years old was waiting for her autograph when someone shoved me on the ground ..Tammi came over took me on her bus I met her George Jones and the Jones Boys band ..to this day it was one of the best memories from my childhood...We saw Buck Owen, Roy Clark, Sonny James and so many others there. .
What a lovely childhood memory. I was 15 in 1969. I believe I was there too. My dad use to fill in as a drummer and guitarist when needed for a lot of the old country music stars so we attended lots of shows.
I had forgotten about the popularity of John Tesh until I saw this. He conducted a great interview, including some sensitive topics. Ms. Tammy was a delight and I knew nothing about her until the current George and Tammy series. What a lovely lady.
Tammy Wynette was a great singer. Wynett was her middle name. John Tesh previously worked in Nashville, I think it was for the local ABC network. There were a lot of media talent that were from Nashville. Most notable was Oprah, that worked for the local CBS network.
A Great Legend / classy lady, thank you for all the great songs , and you amazing voice can never be replaced, will forever listen to your songs.RIP Classy Lady 3-21-19
Oh I miss this beautiful, amazingly talented woman. She should still be alive and living out her 80’s with her girls and grandchildren. Some of the HORRIBLE things that happened to her, should NEVER have happened. And she NEVER should NOT HAVE DIED the way she died. I’m so sorry for her girls that she was TAKEN the way she was. Love you Tammy!
George was jelous of Tammy's fame but both of them were great artists and respected- tammy loved him but when he took to the bottle their marriage went downhill - in my eyes they were and always will be the BEST singing couple that will ever live - I wish you could have been a happily married couple but you will both be remembered as great country singers
Tammy Lynette was grace and class personified and her talent was unmatched. She should also be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Dolly should present her.
Thank you for taking time out to comment. It took me awhile to figure out how to get it off of VHS cassette and on to RU-vid! It makes it all worth while when I get comments like yours. :)
I saw her in Niagara Falls Canada in the late 80s or early 90s. At The Maple Leaf Village, now long gone. Where the old casino is now located. She was incredible in person.
I grew up with her and the first song I ever danced to in a beer joint was Take Me by George and one of the first songs I learned was Apt # 9. She’s so dramatic just like my mother. I saw them first in Kansas City in 1969.
Thank you for taking time out to watch! What a shining soaring spirit this woman had! I frequently listen to her music. Big fan here. Happy Holidays to you and your loved ones!
Such a beautiful lady and singer, last saw her not long before she passed she was in Ipswich England doing a live performance, she was struggling, looking very ill, love you Tammy r I p xx,
One my favorte country singer since 1970s on radio yes Apartment no9 was greatest song and Stand by Your Man. I truly enjoy both. Sad she gone. So glad she was at Fan Fair 1989 I got to she her in person my fist dream come true. Back then was in 20s now age 51 I never feel old still younger. Live country music today. Pure country classic songs only.
Thanks for taking time out to comment! It can be a bit time consuming transfering these and uploading but it makes it all worth while when I get comments like yous! :) ❤
TAMMY YOU AND GEORGE JONES LOOKED SO GOOD TOGETHER I LOVE LISTENING TO YOUR SONGS. I WISH YOU BOTH WOULD HAVE GROWN OLD TOGETHER GEORGE JONES WAS A HANDSOME MAN AND YOU WERE A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN
this is wonderul!!! its sooo nice to see a star that still couldnt believe they wre a star and really humble, what happened to these pop tarts nowadays
I met her twice, once when I was very young at a venue called Ponderosa park in Eastern Ohio, she was extremely gracious and funny. this place was a "Camping" venue with a fairly large covered outdoor stage/Pavillion and our family would go and spend the weekends there depending on who would be performing that weekend ( All the big country stars would go there for some reason? and it was cheap for a large family, we took a camper and also slept in tents with campfires when you were old enough) you could swim in the lake and they had a Rec room with a pool table, Air Hockey, videogames ( Pac Man, Asteroids and maybe Pong). 2nd time was at the Civic Arena in Pittsburgh Pa in the early nineties, she had been Hospitalized either right before the concert and/or before she left town? she wasn't doing so well and her voice was shaky and a bit scratchy but she still went on?! she definitely didn't look well and many at the time were surprised she or someone else didn't cancel the show. They had a Backstage meet and greet after the show (cocktails and H'ourderves) and we were fortunate to get the meet/greet tickets from a liquor company rep. She was a very nice and kind Lady. Rip Ms.Wynette
I saw Alabama at Ponderosa park in 1983 when I was 2 and Luke Duke opened for them...John shnieder!! I remember being there and watching the show at 2 yrs old!!
Thank you SO much for this. Did you notice how Tammy's entire countenance changed when George Jones was mentioned. I've noticed from past interviews that she has a bit of her opening thoughts about him scripted, but varies here and there from interview to interview. I love this woman so much, but sadly never got to meet her. Towards the end t really put a lump in my throat when she said she wanted to be around another 10 years...
Tammy talks about her childhood at that time country people lived that way. The church was their main part of their social life. Rural people did nt have electric. Ppl lived a more practical life the 40s after the war things change slowly.
I think if she would have stayed with George Jones he would have gotten her the help that she needed because unlike the 5th husband I truly believe that he loved her with all of his heart
It is true; If you love him, you forgive him. I did many times....He wasn't worth it. He didn't only two-timed me, he was dating three women at the same time! It had to end. And you know what? He dared to get angry with me for ending it.
smoking plus the fashions even in early 90s were still stuck in the 80s and 80s fashions and hairstyles made all women look much older, even 80s makeup did too. It was the worst time in all history for women's fashion.
Stand by your man actually angered Hillary Clinton which makes me wonder even more about Tammy's early departure. There was several other things happen to her after the song such as house fires illnesses etc. Just my opinion. They did have her body exhumed a year after her death because there was suspicion around how she died.
Even in 1992, "the feminists" were considered this odd group of women who strangely objected to domestic violence. 🤣🤣🤣 Can you imagine what it was like in the 70's & 80's, when we were "women's libbers" and considered even more weird for wanting such things as to get our own credit card or buy a car? The 90's were modern by comparison.
I Agree George Richey, Was Definitely NOT GOOD FOR TAMMY, I Definitely Think He Helped To KEEP Her On Drug’s, & Take Control Of Her Money & Mind Completely 👎👎🥲🥲
Frank Roper I’m sorry you live a miserable life to wear you have to insult nice people. And I believe Tammy was wearing $12 shoes from Walmart for that was the kind of woman she was. Never forgot or ashamed of where she came from.
