Net Worth Ranker
What Was Tammy Wynette’s Net Worth?
At the time of her death, Tammy Wynette, the “First Lady of Country Music,” had a net worth estimated at $900,000. This valuation reflects her successful career as a country music singer, songwriter, and performer, spanning several decades.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Virginia Wynette Pugh, later known as Tammy Wynette, was born on May 5, 1942, in Itawamba County, Mississippi. Her early life was marked by hardship, as her father passed away when she was an infant. Wynette grew up in humble circumstances, helping with crop picking in the Mississippi fields and residing in a home without modern conveniences like indoor plumbing or running water. Despite these challenges, she showed an early aptitude for music, teaching herself to play various instruments that had belonged to her father. She graduated from Tremont High School in 1960, where she also played basketball.
Before fully committing to her music career, Wynette trained as a hairdresser in Midfield, Alabama, in 1965. During this time, she also pursued singing opportunities on the side, appearing on “The Country Boy Eddie Show” in Birmingham. After leaving her first husband, she moved to Nashville with her three daughters with the ambition to secure a record deal and establish herself as a country music star.
The Rise to Stardom
Tammy Wynette’s career took off after signing with Epic Records in 1966. Her debut single, “Apartment No. 9”, was released that same year. Her manager suggested she change her first name to Tammy at this time. The following year, her second single, “Your Good Girl’s Gonna Go Bad,” made a significant impact, reaching #3 on the country music charts. By 1967, she had won her first Grammy Award for the song “I Don’t Wanna Play House” in the category of Best Female Country Vocal Performance. This was a pivotal moment, establishing her as a major force in the country music scene.
The late 1960s were particularly fruitful for Wynette. Between 1968 and 1969, she released five #1 hits. The most notable of these was “Stand by Your Man,” co-written with Billy Sherrill, which reportedly took less than 15 minutes to write. Despite initial controversy due to its message coinciding with the rise of the women’s rights movement, the song became a massive success and a signature tune for Wynette. The single earned her another Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance. By 1989, the album that contained “Stand by Your Man” achieved platinum status, demonstrating its lasting popularity and commercial success.
Peak Career and Notable Hits
The early 1970s saw Tammy Wynette continue to dominate the country music charts, often alongside fellow star Loretta Lynn. She released several more #1 hits during this period. Wynette also collaborated with George Jones, resulting in numerous duets that reached the top 10 on the U.S. country singles chart. Some notable duets included “We’re Gunna Hold On” and “Golden Ring.” The pair married in 1969, but divorced in 1975 due to Jones’ struggles with alcoholism. Following their divorce, Wynette released “Til I Can Make It on My Own” in 1976, which reached #1 on the U.S. country singles chart and became her first single in three years to enter the pop charts. This song is now considered one of her signature tunes.
Later Career and Collaborations
While Tammy Wynette’s popularity waned in the late 1970s, she continued to achieve Top 10 status until the end of the decade. A TV movie about her life, “Stand by Your Man,” was released in 1981, along with her memoir of the same name. Though her chart success began to decline in the 1980s, she still managed to have a few top 20 hits. In 1987, she released “Higher Ground,” which achieved both commercial and critical success.
In 1988, Wynette released “Beneath a Painted Sky,” featuring duet vocals from Emmylou Harris. The single reached #25 and became Wynette’s final top 40 single. She released “Heart Over Mind” in 1990 to little fanfare. However, in 1991, she collaborated with the British band The KLF on the song “Justified and Ancient,” which reached #1 in 18 countries and introduced Wynette to a new audience. In 1993, Wynette collaborated with Dolly Parton and Loretta Lynn on “Honky Tonk Angels,” marking the first time the three superstars appeared together on an album, though it did not produce any hit singles. Other collaborations included a 1996 duet with Brian Wilson, a cover of “In My Room,” and vocals on Lou Reed’s “Perfect Day” in 1997, which became a UK #1 hit. Wynette’s last concert was on March 5, 1998, where she filled in for an ill Loretta Lynn.
“First Lady Acres” and Real Estate Holdings
In 1974, George Jones purchased a 9,600-square-foot equestrian estate located on eight acres in Nashville as a gift for Tammy. This property, named “First Lady Acres,” was built four years earlier. Tammy lived in the home until 1979. The home was sold for $1.8 million two decades later. In 2016, Scott Underwood, the drummer for the band Train, purchased the home for $2.4 million. He then listed it for sale a year later for $5.5 million and eventually accepted $3 million in October 2017.
Personal Life and Legacy
Tammy Wynette’s personal life was often tumultuous. She was married five times, including a prominent marriage to country music star George Jones in 1969, which ended in divorce in 1975. Wynette struggled with various medical issues beginning in the 1970s. She passed away in her sleep on April 6, 1998. Although her initial death was attributed to a blood clot in her lung, her body was exhumed in 1999, and a new investigation changed the cause of death to cardiac arrhythmia. This led to a wrongful death suit. Tammy Wynette is buried at the Woodlawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Nashville, Tennessee. Wynette’s net worth reflected a successful career that included hit records, multiple awards, and concert tours. Though precise figures for her annual earnings are not publicly available, her consistent presence on the charts and her status as a top-selling artist indicate a substantial income stream throughout her career. Royalties from her hit songs, particularly “Stand by Your Man,” would have continued to contribute to her estate’s value long after her peak years. Also, the success of the song “Stand by Your Man,” resulted in Wynette obtaining a platinum record status by 1989.
