Inside Tammy Wynette’s Ryman Tribute: Unforgettable Performances

Stars Gather At Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium To Honor Tammy Wynette

The revered Ryman Auditorium has been the setting of countless iconic country music moments, and Monday, March 30th, was no exception. A stacked lineup of country musicians gathered to pay homage to the late, great Tammy Wynette just a few days before the anniversary of her passing.

Known affectionately as the “First Last of Country Music,” Wynette left a lasting impact on the genre and helped blaze a trail for future female artists. Coming from humble beginnings, the Mississippi native went on to land 20 number-one singles and sell an estimated 30 million records worldwide.

The one-night-only event was designed to celebrate the “powerful legacy with performances that reflect both the timelessness of Tammy’s songs and the deep respect today’s artists hold for the trailblazing icon.” Wynonna Judd, Lorrie Morgan, The War and Treaty, Terry Clark, Gretchen Wilson, Kaitlin Butts, and many more were on the docket for the special night.

Titled Forever Yours, the show was filmed to be broadcast as part of PBS’s Great Performances at a later date.

All-Star Lineup Performs Their Favorite Tammy Wynette Classics

As fans packed the historic pews, the show opened with an overture by Jason Coleman, followed by a performance of Wynette’s first-ever number-one hit, “I Don’t Want To Play House,” by Kimberly Perry of The Band Perry.

Georgette Jones, the daughter of Tammy Wynette and George Jones, delivered a beautiful rendition of “He Loves Me All the Way.” Later, she made the audience tear up when she returned to the stage to sing an emotional original song dedicated to her mother, “I Hope You Knew.”

Although Terri Clark never had the opportunity to meet Tammy Wynette personally, she credits her as one of her greatest musical influences. She gave a sassy performance of the 1967 single, “Your Good Girl’s Gonna Go Bad,” in memory of the icon.

Rising star Carter Faith joked that every night before she goes on stage, she “prays to God and Tammy Wynette.” She looked ethereal in an embellished white gown as she sang “Another Lonely Song.” Faith is currently featured alongside Wynette in a new exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Wynonna Judd has long celebrated the music of Tammy Wynette and recorded “Woman to Woman” on the 1998 album Tammy Wynette Remembered. Now, nearly 20 years later, she sounded as good as ever as she delivered the cautionary tune from the Ryman stage.

@countryrebel @Wynonna Judd ♬ original sound – countryrebel

Other noteworthy performances from the evening included Gretchen Wilson with “Til I Get It Right,” Lorrie Morgan with “You and Me,” The War and Treaty with “Golden Ring,” and Ann Wilson of Heart with “Stand By Your Man.”

Stay tuned for the air date of Forever Yours when it is announced, and be sure to tune in to see all 20+ performances!