Before becoming a country music star and the First Lady of Country Music, Tammy Wynette was Virginia Wynette Pugh, a teenage girl from rural Mississippi who married Euple Byrd at the age of 17 in 1959. Their turbulent marriage shaped Wynette’s early upbringing and set her on the route to achieving her aspirations of being a country music star.
When Did Euple Byrd Marry Tammy Wynette?
Euple Byrd was born February 16, 1937, in Itawamba County, Mississippi. He was five years older than Wynette. Little is known about Byrd’s early life before meeting Wynette.
The pair married in 1959, a month before Wynette graduated from high school. Because Wynette was not yet of legal age, her mother was obliged to sign the marriage documents. However, Wynette’s mother objected, forcing her to leave the family home. Instead, her grandpa signed the documents to formalize the marriage.
What Issues Did Wynette and Euple Face in Married Life?
Byrd and Wynette’s marriage was characterized by continual arguing and instability. Many of their marital issues originated from Byrd’s failure to maintain a consistent employment, which forced the young couple to relocate repeatedly.
While Byrd struggled to find work, Wynette performed a variety of professions to support the family, including waitress, shoe factory worker, cocktail waitress, and hair stylist. By the age of 20, Wynette had given birth to their first two daughters, Gwendolyn and Jacquelyn.
The relentless tension took its toll on Wynette. Wynette experienced a “nervous breakdown” during a particularly nasty dispute when pregnant with their third child, Tina. Her family admitted her to a mental institution, where she was diagnosed with depression and had 12 rounds of electroshock therapy.
When Wynette returned home, she was resolved to leave Byrd. Wynette’s mother, however, was opposed to divorce, so she relocated to Birmingham, Alabama, in secret with her three young kids. Byrd followed, and the couple resolved to give their struggling marriage another try. They relocated to a housing project while Byrd secured a new job. However, he eventually abandoned Wynette and the children in their apartment.
‘Dream on, baby’ Incident and Their Divorce
Wynette, who was fed up, sued for divorce from Byrd in 1965. Prior to the breakup, Wynette had confided in Byrd about her desire to become a country music star. “Dream on, baby, dream on,” he said dismissively.
Wynette, a recently single mother of three, went in cosmetology school while still pursuing her artistic goals. In January 1966, she put her children and things into a vehicle and moved to Nashville to pursue her aspirations.
However, Wynette’s route to prominence was not simple. She had several challenges as a female performer in the male-dominated country music industry of the 1960s. However, her skill, tenacity, and the struggles she faced throughout her rocky marriage to Byrd provided her with the grit and real-life experience that made her songs so relevant to audiences.
Did Byrd and Wynette Meet After She Became a Celebrity?
Following the divorce, Byrd dropped from prominence, while Wynette’s fame increased. However, he reappeared in her life years later as her celebrity expanded.
In a well-known tale, Byrd reportedly approached Wynette during one of her concerts and requested her autograph. She signed it, “Dream On, Baby.” “Love, Tammy” is a scathing allusion to his previous disdain of her artistic ambitions. Byrd also occasionally attended Wynette’s family gatherings, hoping to re-establish contact with her and their girls.
How and When Did Euple Byrd Died?
Sadly, Euple Byrd’s life ended tragically on November 30, 1996. He died at age 59 in Jefferson County, Alabama. It is thought he died as a result of injuries incurred in an automobile accident.
Although their marriage was brief and tumultuous, Euple Byrd clearly had a significant influence on Tammy Wynette’s life and singing. The anguish, heartbreak, and difficulties she had during their relationship developed her as a person and added authenticity to her songs, which resonated strongly with people.
In many ways, Wynette’s real life reflected the issues she sang about: loneliness, divorce, heartache, and perseverance. Her brief but formative marriage to Byrd was a rough beginning to a life filled of love, sorrow, struggle, and great highs and lows, much like a country song.
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While Euple Byrd may be a footnote in Wynette’s famous narrative, he was a key figure in her rise to become one of the most successful and influential ladies in country music history. Wynette was inspired to prove him wrong and pursue her aspirations after his initial rejection of her skills.
Their unhappy marriage produced a stronger determination and a unique voice that would change the position of women in country music and popular culture.
