Tammy Wynette

It is probably appropriate that Tammy Wynette seems to be the only performing artist to ever release an album entitled Womanhood. The title song of this 1978 release, yet another hit from the clever songwriter Bobby Braddock, has become something of a legend, although not quite on the popularity level of the eternal "Stand by Your Man"." Unlike that Wynette anthem, "Womanhood" hands out the kind of advice most parents probably wish rabbis and priests were giving to adolescent girls. As good as Braddock is, though, he should have written another verse for this song; nothing quite lives up to, or down to, the opening line rhyming the name "Patricia" with "tried to kiss ya."

In many ways, Tammy Wynette deserves the title of "the First Lady of Country Music." During the late '60s and early '70s, she dominated the country charts, scoring 17 number one hits. Along with Loretta Lynn, she defined the role of female country vocalists in the '70s.

Legend is a hefty title to carry, especially if you're still kicking. The standards are high, the expectations immense. Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, and Tammy Wynette are, nevertheless, legends of country music with decades of albums and awards to prove it. And they are very much still kicking on Honky Tonk Angels – just in case anyone needs a little reminder. You can even hear how much fun they had singing together, setting aside any historic competition and letting their love of country music shine through, each gracefully moving between lead and harmony vocals. As for the song selection, it covers a wide swath of country history from tunes made famous by early pioneers like Ferlin Husky, the Davis Sisters, and Hank Locklin to their own more contemporary compositions. If that weren't enough credibility, Kitty Wells lends her amazing voice to the opening anthem "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels." Pure goodness. In another twist, Patsy Cline sings on "Lovesick Blues" with Parton, Lynn, and Wynette backing her. The closing track sums up the humorous reverence that permeates much of country music. "I Dreamed of a Hillbilly Heaven" was a hit for Tex Ritter in 1961 and is a surprising choice that seems a bit out of place, but somehow works well enough. For fans of traditional country or great singers, this is a fun listen because it nicely captures three of the best voices around.

Just Tammy is the twentieth studio album by American country music singer-songwriter Tammy Wynette. It was released on May 28, 1979, by Epic Records. The album peaked at No. 25 on the Billboard Country Albums chart. The album's first single, "They Call It Making Love", peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard Country Singles chart, and the album's second single, "No One Else in the World", peaked at No. 7.