LEGENDS OF THE LONGHORN
Tammy Wynette
Known as “The First Lady of Country Music,” Tammy Wynette poured raw emotion into her songs, capturing everything from heartache to hope. With 20 #1 hits and three-time CMA Female Vocalist of the Year awards, this Country Music Hall of Fame recipient also navigated her share of public controversies.
Her anthem “Stand By Your Man” stirred controversy, aligning her with traditional values of rural and working-class women amid the rising tide of women's liberation. Coupled with her tumultuous relationship with country legend George Jones, the song faced both praise and backlash, yet Wynette carried herself with class, championing women everywhere. In an interview before one of Wynette’s shows, Dewey Groom, former proprietor of the Longhorn Ballroom, remarked, “Women respect her. They’re not down or jealous of her.”
Tammy Wynette was a beloved figure at Dallas’ Longhorn Ballroom, where she played many times in the ’60s and ’70s with her band and also as a duet with Jones. She was welcomed by devoted fans and sold out shows at the Longhorn, a melting pot of musical genres. Reflecting on the ever-changing times and music, she remarked, “They say this music is changing a lot... but it still tells about just everyday living. I don’t want it to change too much. I don’t ever want to see the day when I can’t hear music and say, ‘That’s a country song.’”
Today, Tammy Wynette’s legacy as one of the best country music artists of all time, and she inspires countless artists who grace the stage at the Longhorn Ballroom today.
