Tammy Wynette’s Legacy Still Reigns at the Ryman

In the cult classic television series Sordid Lives, based on Del Shores’ beloved 1996 stage play of the same name, the late, great Leslie Jordan plays Brother Boy, a Tammy Wynette-obsessed drag performer reeling over the death of the country queen. When a family member suggests that perhaps Wynette will serve as Brother Boy’s guardian angel, he balks. “What about her legions and legions of fans?” he asks. “I’m just one. Why would she choose me?” A few scenes later, guardian angel Tammy, portrayed by Wynette’s daughter Georgette Jones, does visit Brother Boy, giving him the strength to go on.

Though she died in 1998, Wynette is still giving fans strength. She also still reigns as the patron saint — or guardian angel — of anyone in need of a devastatingly sad country song. When you hear a Tammy Wynette tune, her quivering, teardrop-in-every-note voice makes you feel like she’s singing to you alone. You feel chosen. 

Devoted fans filled the Ryman on March 30 to see an all-star lineup honor Wynette in a tribute concert called Forever Yours: The First Lady of Country Music, recorded for broadcast and set to air on PBS Great Performances later this year. 

Jason Coleman, Nashville pianist and grandson of country legend Floyd Cramer, kicked off the show with a piano medley of Wynette’s hits. Country singer-songwriter Kimberly Perry then took the stage to perform “I Don’t Wanna Play House,” Wynette’s first No. 1 hit as a solo artist. 

Georgette Jones herself then appeared, sharing her family’s gratitude to the fans who’ve continued to keep Wynette’s memory alive. “You have supported her through decades of her passion for music, and she loved y’all so much,” said Jones, before performing 1970’s “He Loves Me All the Way.”

Throughout the evening, artists shared what Wynette has meant to them in their lives. After reflecting on childhood memories of her mom singing Tammy Wynette songs as lullabies, Terri Clark performed “Your Good Girl’s Gonna Go Bad,” acknowledging how the bold confidence Wynette displays in the song inspired her own career. 

“I chose this one because it was sassy and it was strong,” Clark said. “Everything my own mom was, and everything I wanted to be as a singer if I was lucky enough to ever grace the same stage as [Wynette].”

New Zealand-raised artist Tami Neilson pulled double duty during the show. Lucinda Williams wasn’t able to join as planned, so Neilson performed the 1966 weeper “Apartment No. 9.” Later, she returned for “Cry,” a showstopper she aptly described as a “deep cut for [the] die-hard fans.”

“I’m Temu Tammy,” Neilson joked, showing the audience the embroidered ‘Tami’ on the back of her Nudie Suit-inspired dress. “My parents couldn’t afford the fifth letter.”

Wynonna Judd shared memories of the down-to-earth singer so many artists and fans came to know. “I met Tammy Wynette in 1984,” Judd recalled to the audience. “She handed [The Judds] our first award, the Horizon Award at the CMA [Awards]. We quickly became family. She used to cook for me on her bus.” 

Though Judd brought the house down with her rendition of the soulful stunner “Woman to Woman,” the singer opted to do another take of the song for the broadcast taping. “I’m gonna do it one more time and do it sassier,” Wynonna told the crowd. As always, she delivered. 

Nashville folk artist Katie Pruitt noted that it’s “tough to follow Wynonna.” But Pruitt had no need to worry. Their sensational performance of the Kris Kristofferson-penned “Help Me Make It Through the Night” was one of the most powerful in an evening filled with thrilling moments. 

Wynette recorded more than a dozen songs with George Jones, to whom she was married for six years. Her legendary pairing with The Possum was well-represented by husband-and-wife country duo The War and Treaty, who gave a rafter-raising performance of “Golden Ring.”

Carter Faith, who delivered a stirring performance of ”Another Lonely Song” with her own tear-soaked voice, summed up Wynette’s mythic status among country women. “Everytime I go onstage, I pray to God and Tammy Wynette,” she told the crowd. 

Performances from Valerie June (“Beneath a Painted Sky”), Troubadour Blue (“If It’s the Last Thing I Do”), Jaci Velasquez (“How Great Thou Art”) and Gretchen Wilson (“’Til I Get It Right”) rounded out the first half of the show. Following a brief intermission, Wynette’s status as the queen of heartbreak got a showcase via Patty Griffin’s take on “Talkin’ to Myself Again,” Debby Boone’s rendition of the torchy “’Til I Can Make It on My Own” and KT Tunstall’s performance of the heartbreaking “D-I-V-O-R-C-E.” Wynette’s long-standing reputation as Our Lady of Country Sorrows got a different kind of spotlight when Jamie O’Neal sang the Brandy Clark-penned “Tammy Wynette Kind of Pain.”

But Wynette’s catalog is also filled with cheeky love songs and fiery anthems of independence. The lighter side of Tammy’s repertoire was celebrated in Brittney Spencer’s joyous cover of “My Man (Understands),” The Isaacs’ performance of “Silver Threads and Golden Needles” and Kaitlin Butts’ delivery of Wynette’s 1982 kiss-off “Another Chance.” Meanwhile Mandy Barnett’s powerhouse performance of “You’ll Never Walk Alone” represented the hope and encouragement Wynette gave her fans over the decades. 

Following Lorrie Morgan’s rousing performance of “You & Me,” Wynette’s final No. 1 song as a solo artist, Georgette Jones returned to the stage to perform “I Hope You Knew.” Jones wrote the song for her mom on Mother’s Day about a year after she passed away. 

“To all of you she was a singer and songwriter and maybe even a legend in country music,” Jones said. “But to my sisters and my family, she was a wonderful, loving mama, meemaw and friend.”

Wynonna Judd also made a return to the Mother Church stage to play Tammy Wynette to Randy Houser’s George Jones as the pair treated the audience to the classic country duet “We’re Gonna Hold On.”

As the evening waned, it was nearly impossible not to speculate about who would perform Wynette’s signature song “Stand by Your Man.” By the time Heart’s Ann Wilson walked onstage to thunderous applause, it was clear that the answer should’ve been obvious from the start.

“It was an honor to be allowed to sing [this song],” the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer said. “It’s probably the most powerful song worldwide that any woman could sing.” 

Wilson’s voice reached the heavens as she belted out the country standard that’s nearly holy in the hearts of Tammy Wynette fans. As the lights went up in the auditorium, I left the Mother Church feeling a little lighter, a little wiser and a lot stronger — almost as if I had a certain legend looking out for me.