Tammy Wynette Spouse: Who Did She Marry?

American country music singer, songwriter, author, and actress Tammy Wynette was known as one of country music’s most popular, influential, and successful artists. She has sold an estimated 30 million records worldwide. She has received two Grammy Awards, three Country Music Association awards, and two Academy of Country Music Awards.

Who Is Tammy Wynette’s Spouse?

Tammy Wynette who was born Virginia Wynette Pugh on May 5, 1942, in Itawamba County, Mississippi, U.S., may have enjoyed a successful career but her love life was a complicated one. She walked down the aisle with five different men and had four children. Apart from the men she walked down the aisle with, she was also romantically linked to several people. Let’s check out who Tammy was married to.

Tammy Married Her First Husband At Age 17

Tammy Wynette got married for the first time to Euple Byrd, a man who was five years her senior. At the time she got married, she was at the age of 17-18 years. Initially, Euple Byrd was not the man Tammy intended to marry. She wanted to marry Euple’s brother D.C. until he remarried his first wife. At that young age, Tammy wasn’t qualified to get married as she was not of legal age to do so.

Tammy Wynette’s mother who was to sign the marriage paperwork refused to do so. She forced Tammy out of the family home. However, Tammy’s grandfather was the one who signed the papers that legalized Tammy’s first marriage. Tammy and Euple Byrd’s union was far from being a fairy tale. They had fought throughout their relationship, often because Euple was unable to get a steady job.

Tammy Wynette and Euple Byrd, a construction worker gave birth to three daughters: Gwendolyn Lee, Jaclyn Faye, and Tina Denise. The two eventually got divorced. They were married from 1960 to 1965. Unfortunately, Euple passed away in 1996, in a car crash.

ALSO READ: Euple Byrd: What happened to Tammy Wynette’s ex-husband?

Tammy’s Second Marriage Was To A Clerk

For the second time, Tammy Wynette married Don Chapel, a hotel clerk. As a front desk attendant, Don was working at the Red Anchor Motel in Nashville where Tammy was staying at the time. The two got fond of each other through their day-to-day interactions and soon they began a relationship. At the time, Don was aspiring to be a songwriter and musician. He would later write several popular country songs. Tammy and Don Chapel were married from 1967 until 1968. Their marriage was childless.

Tammy’s Third Marriage Was Tumultuous

Tammy Wynette’s third marriage was to American country musician, singer, and songwriter George Glenn Jones. Tammy was still married to Don Chapel at the time she met George. George also knew Don and the three became friends. One time, George helped Tammy when one of her children was hospitalized with food poisoning. George reportedly stopped by Tammy and Don’s house the next day.

Tammy Wynette and Don Chapel got into an argument while George Jones was around. George got angry with Don’s actions and overturned Tammy and Don’s dining room table. According to George: “I felt rage fly all over me. I jumped from my chair, put my hands under the dinner table, and flipped it over. Dishes, utensils, and glasses flew in all directions. Don and Tammy’s eyes got about as big as the flying dinner plates.”

George Jones decided to confess his love for Tammy Wynette on the spot. “I love Tammy … and she loves me, too, don’t you, Tammy?” George said, and Tammy answered “Yes”. George and Tammy then took Tammy’s three daughters with them and they left. George and Tammy got married after Tammy’s marriage to Don Chapel was annulled. However, their marriage was tumultuous.

George Jones’ alcoholism became a major factor hindering their marriage although they had success in their careers. They created duets together and were known as “Mr. & Mrs. Country Music”. They had one daughter, Georgette Jones but had three children each from previous marriages. George’s drinking and erratic behavior worsened, leading to the couple’s divorce.

ALSO READ: George Jones Spouse: Who Did He Marry?

Tammy Wynette and George Jones were married from 1969 until 1975. Even after the divorce, they continued to make music together. George and Tammy’s relationship was portrayed in the 2022 miniseries George & Tammy. George died on April 26, 2013, at age 81, from hypoxic respiratory failure.

Tammy Married Third Husband Weeks After They Met

After she got divorced from George Jones, Tammy Wynette got romantically involved with several men before getting married to Michael Tomlin, a real estate developer. They had a brief courtship, marrying only weeks after they met each other. They got married on July 18, 1976, and spent their honeymoon in Hawaii. Their marriage was very short as it ended six weeks following their wedding.

Tammy Remained Married To Her fifth Husband Until She Died

Tammy Wynette chose to still walk down the aisle for the fifth time. Her fifth husband, George Richey was an American songwriter and record producer. George became Tammy’s full-time manager and he took control of her finances as well. Tammy’s family and friends claimed her marriage to George was a decision she regretted. Despite the claims, they remained married until Tammy died on April 6, 1998, at age 55.