Country Musicians Stand By Their Tammy

Canada

Country Musicians Stand By Their Tammy

Thu., Apr. 9, 1998 6:45 PM PDT by Marcus Errico

It was a memorial fit for a queen, or in this case, a first lady. The First Lady of Country Music, that is.

The cream of Nashville joined 1,500 fans Thursday for a moving, musical tribute to Tammy Wynette.

Dolly Parton, Randy Travis, the Oak Ridge Boys and Merle Haggard took turns singing songs honoring Wynette, who died Monday of blood clot on her lung. She was 55.

Wynette's fellow country queen Loretta Lynn was also supposed to show, but, according to Parton, "she was just so broke up she couldn't make it here." ("Here" being Nashville's legendary Ryman Auditorium, site of the public ceremony.)

Earlier in the day it was Parton who was too choked up. During a private service Parton began singing the gospel standard "Shine On," but stopped midway through. "Thank you. That's all I can sing right now," she told the mourners, which included Wynette's family, along with country stars Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood and Crystal Gayle.

Wynette was buried at Nashville's Woodlawn Memorial Park between the private and public service.

While tears flowed at the public ceremony, the mourning eventually turned into celebration once the music started. Parton sang the chorus of her "I Will Always Love You." Naomi Judd called Wynette the "most distinguised female vocalist in our history." Then daughter Wynonna brought the crowd to its feet with the hymn "How Great Thou Art."

The fitting end to the service: Lorrie Morgan leading a rousing verson of Wynette's signature tune, "Stand By Your Man."

Afterward the crowd rose, applauding Morgan, and standing by their Tammy.