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Tammy Wynette: The 'Tragic Country Queen'

A new biography sees past Tammy Wynette's glittery costumes to examine the singer's deepest struggles. Redferns/Getty Images hide caption

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Redferns/Getty Images

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Tammy Wynette: The 'Tragic Country Queen'

When Tammy Wynette died in 1998, she was known as the First Lady of Country Music. Her music expressed drama and, judging by Jimmy McDonough's new biography, there was no shortage of it in her own life. Read an excerpt from his book, Tammy Wynette: Tragic Country Queen, here.

Tammy Wynette: The 'Tragic Country Queen'

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'Stand By Your Man'

Tammy WYNETTE at the Country Music Festival. David Redfern/Redferns hide caption

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David Redfern/Redferns

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'Stand By Your Man'

In August 1968, Tammy Wynette and her producer Billy Sherrill recorded the song that would become her signature — a song that feminists pointed to as degrading to women.

'Stand By Your Man'

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