George Jones Criticized “Stand By Your Man” Before Knowing Tammy Wynette Wrote It

On this date in 1968, Tammy Wynette recorded her signature song “Stand By Your Man,” co-written with producer Billy Sherrill. The track served as the lead single and title track of her subsequent album. It quickly became a #1 hit on the country songs chart and remains one of the most recognizable—and controversial—songs in the genre.

Tammy Wynette wrote the song amidst her tumultuous marriage to George Jones. At that point, she had already been through two divorces, further complicating public perception of the song when it was released. Though Tammy never intended for it to serve as a women’s rights anthem or a broad social statement, record labels saw an opportunity. Epic promoted the single with an audacious Billboard ad declaring, “TAMMY WYNETTE’S ANSWER TO WOMEN’S LIB: ‘STAND BY YOUR MAN,’ NEW RELEASE.”

Such promotion rubbed many women the wrong way, especially given Tammy’s less-than-perfect marital history. The irony was not lost on the public; how could someone with multiple divorces advocate for standing by a man? Yet, despite the controversy, Tammy and Billy crafted the song in just 20 minutes after a long day of writing. Initially titled “I’ll Stand By You,” Tammy wanted to add more depth and edge to the concept, leading to the iconic lyrics we know today.

They recorded the song the very same day. After the first take, Billy recalled Tammy’s sarcastic quip that she hoped it would never become a huge hit due to the difficulty of hitting the song’s high note consistently. Tammy wasn’t particularly confident in her songwriting skills at the time. Her confidence took another hit when George Jones, unaware she had written it, expressed that he didn’t like the song. This made Tammy even more nervous about its release.

In a 1993 interview on *The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,* Tammy delved into the true meaning of “Stand By Your Man.” She clarified that she had no political or social motives behind the song, instead seeing it simply as a beautiful love song. Despite criticisms that the song implied a double standard about forgiving men, Tammy staunchly defended her creation. She stressed that the lyrics were meant to convey a general sentiment of love and loyalty, not to belittle women or advocate traditional gender roles.

Tammy often reiterated that she wrote the song in just 15 minutes and spent much of her life defending its intentions. For her, it was always just a heartfelt love song, devoid of any political message. This sentiment resonates with many fans, although some still criticize the song’s implications despite Tammy’s numerous explanations.

You can watch the 1993 interview to hear Tammy’s perspective in her own words: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzOrNq6jL0w.

For those who appreciate timeless music, Tammy Wynette’s “Stand By Your Man” remains an iconic piece. The song’s storytelling, emotional depth, and relatability continue to resonate with audiences. It is a testament to Tammy’s songwriting prowess and ability to evoke genuine, lasting emotions through her music.

To witness her timeless performance, watch this 1975 rendition: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcI9aHW72I8.

Source: Particle News