According to Billy Sherrill, Tammy Wynette’s 1968 number one, “Stand By Your Man,” was just another way of saying “I love you and without reservations!” Sherrill says he carried the idea for “Stand By Your Man” on a piece of paper in his back pocket for over a year before ever attempting to write the song.

He commented, “And all that time, the world was barraged by ERA and Women’s Lib so I decided that I wanted the song to be for all women everywhere who did not agree. I wanted it to be a tune for the truly liberated woman--it was for women who were secure enough in their own identity to enjoy it!”

“Some people thought the song was about chauvinism, but that’s their problem. They can like the song or lump it! It’s just another way of saying I love you with no strings attached.”

 Tammy Wynette’s “Stand By Your Man” entered the country music charts  October 19th, 1968 and made it to number one where it stuck for three weeks. It was Tammy’s 8th chart single and was on the country music charts for 21 weeks.  The single also scored a #19 on the pop music charts.

Doug Davis
Country Music Classics