Occupation(s): Musician, Singer
Date of Birth: May 5, 1942
Place of Birth: Itawamba County, Miss., USA
Date of Death: April 6, 1998
Education: High school
Relations: First husband: Euple Byrd; second husband: Don Chapel; third husband: George Jones; fourth husband: Michael Tomlin; fifth husband: George Richey; kids: Gwen, Jackie, Tina, Georgette
Sun Sign: Taurus
Moon Sign: Capricorn

About fifteen hundred friends, fans, and family said an emotional goodbye in Nashville on Thursday to Tammy Wynette. The First Lady of Country Music, who died Monday at the age of fifty-five from a blood clot in her lung, was mourned at a memorial service that included performances from several top country stars. A large photo of the "Stand by Your Man" singer, wearing a bright bonnet, was placed at the center of the stage inside the Ryman Auditorium, the original home of the Grand Ole Opry.

"There will never, ever be anyone like Tammy Wynette," said Naomi Judd. "I was proud to call her one of my most cherished friends . . . one of the biggest-hearted people I have ever know in my life." Judd added, "We had three queens of country music, and one of them's gone now," referring to Tammy Wynette, Loretta Lynn, and Dolly Parton.

Lynn attended the funeral, but she was reportedly too grief-stricken to appear at the service, where she had been scheduled to speak. Parton remembered Tammy as "my little girlfriend . . . she was like a little sister and I loved her dearly," and reminisced about how she and Tammy would talk about their thin hair and wigs. "I think that's why God gave us talent, because he screwed up our hair so bad," she joked. Parton then began singing the tune "Shine On," but was forced to cut it short after becoming overcome with emotion. "Thank you. That's all I can sing right now," she told the crowd.

George Richey, Tammy's fifth husband, whom she married in 1978, was shaken and tearful when he walked to the stage to pay tribute to his late wife. "What I wanted was to look after her. She was my buddy," he said. Richey, before breaking down, then told the crowd of his last moments with Tammy: "We were alone in the house on the couch when she left . . . Oh my God!" George Jones, who was married to Tammy from 1969 to 1975, attended the memorial but did not speak or perform.

Other country stars who took to the stage included Wynonna, who performed a moving rendition of "How Great Thou Art"; Randy Travis, who sang "Precious Memories"; the Oak Ridge Boys; and the Stamps gospel singers. The service concluded with Lorrie Morgan singing Tammy's signature tune, "Stand by Your Man," which brought the crowd of mourners to its feet for a standing ovation.

Tammy was layed to rest at Woodlawn Memorial Park in Nashville.