Welcome back to Country Music 4 Ever! Today I'm going to begin a new series. I love hearing stories of what inspires people to write songs. Sometimes it's something very personal and they write the song to help them get through whatever it is they're dealing with. Other times they write the song for fun about something lighthearted people can dance to or play at a party. Country music is full of songs about anything you may be feeling or dealing with. Since the very beginning it has been about real life.

 

The songwriting process is fascinating. Someone has an idea that they write down on paper, they then come up with a tune and put it to music, then if they're lucky it will get recorded and be sent to the radio, if the radio executives and the fans like the song it gets played and could end up at the number one spot on the chart. Every hit song you hear on the radio started as an idea and in this new series I'm going to discuss the stories behind the some of the biggest songs in country music history. I will be highlighting the top ten songs on Billboard's list of the 100 best country songs. Today I will begin with the number ten song, "Stand By Your Man" by Tammy Wynette.

 

In 1968, After being turned down by a number of labels, Tammy Wynette was signed to Epic Records and she began working with record executive, Billy Sherrill. Tammy and Billy wrote "Stand By Your Man" in just 15 minutes.

 

Tammy didn't have much faith in herself as a songwriter, so she played the song for George Jones, who she was going to marry in 1969, but he wasn't supportive and told her he didn't like the song, which made Tammy believe she wasn't a good songwriter. However, the song started to grow on Tammy the more she heard it.

 

"Stand By Your Man" was released during the women's liberation movement during the late 1960s and some people took offense to the song since it suggests women should stand by a man. However, Tammy intended for it to just be a "pretty love song" and was never trying to push her political views in her music. In her 1979 autobiography, "Stand By Your Man," she explained what the song meant to her saying, "To me, it means; be supportive of your man, show him you love him and your proud of him, and be willing to forgive him if he doesn't always live up to your image of what he should be."

 

Tammy was one of the greatest country singers of all time and had a voice like no other. I hope you enjoyed this look at one of her best songs. I'll be back soon with part two of this series with a country music anthem.