Skip to main content

When Huell Howser Met Tammy Wynette

Support Provided By
huell_howser_70s

To refer to Tammy Wynette as "that lady who sang 'Stand by Your Man,'" sells her short. She's a legend in country music and a major figure in pop culture. And though her fans would have heard a lot about her personal life -- her divorce from singer George Jones meant the end of country's biggest supercouple since Johnny Cash and June Carter -- she's remembered today for her amazing voice above anything else.

In these two clips from "Off-Stage," a Huell Howser show that aired on Nashville's WSM-TV in late 70s, however, Huell interviews Wynette specifically about her personal life. Click below to watch, and maybe consider how reserved Wynette seems in comparison to how celebrities today might be when spilling the details of their personal life.

Tammy Wynette & Huell Howser, "Off-Stage"

Things to note:

  • At the 0:22 mark, you'll hear a great example of a famous person saying "Yes, essentially, I am seeing this person, and I'm going to reveal this without explicitly revealing it, and you're not getting anything more than this out of me because I'm classy."
  • At 0:56, Wynette pledges that she'll never marry again. She was wrong: She got married a fifth time, and this one lasted. In 1978, Wynette married singer-songwriter George Richey and they stayed together until Wynette's death in 1998. It was her longest marriage.
  • That's her youngest child, Tamala Georgette Jones, daughter of George Jones, that you see delivering orange juice and then hovering in the background. Today, she's all grown up and working as a country singer herself. In case you'd like to see what she looks like today, click here.

Of course, "Stand by Your Man" was her signature song. Have a listen:
Read previous "Retro Huell" posts:

See moreon Huell's official YouTube page. And if you haven't yet, take a moment to sign Huell's memorial page.

Support Provided By
Up Next
Read More
A close shot of a person's hands holding strands of a dried plant. The person is wearing a ring on their left middle and ring finger, bracelets on their wrists.

PBS SoCal and KCET Nominated for 14 Golden Mike Awards

The Golden Mike Awards® will take place on March 25, 2023.
Rubén 'Funkahuatl' Guevara from ARTBOUND Season 12 Opener "Con Safos." Courtesy of Getty Images.

Artbound's 'Con Safos' Wins Two National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards

KCET and PBS SoCal brought home two wins at the NAEJ awards.
Narsiso Martinez uses a charcoal pencil to draw a portrait on a cardboard produce box mounted on the wall. The photo is taken from over his shoulder, focused on the artwork in process.

PBS SoCal and KCET Nominated for 10 NAEJ Awards

NAEJ recognizes work from U.S.-based entertainment reporters and editors and theater, film and television critics in all media.