Well, Feb. 14 is a day dedicated to love. In the world of country music there are many couples who will be celebrating Valentine’s Day together. But on the day before the day of red hearts, romantic meals, roses, and chocolate, the team at Top Country thought we would take a look at a few couples who did not have success with love (at least with each other). There are many great country songs about splitting up, cheating, lying, and generally doing things that break up a marriage. And there are many country couples who hitched up and then broke up. Before we feature these split-up marriage wrecks, how about a little inspiration. The classic Tammy Wynette song, ‘D-I-V-O-R-C-E.’
Tammy Wynette & George Jones
Tammy Wynette not only sang about it, but lived it (she was married five times). One of the the most famous marriages in country music history ended in divorce. Tammy and George Jones were married in 1969 when both were huge stars. However, there marriage was a rocky one and they called it quits just 5 years later, and their divorce was final in 1975. The two recorded a series of duet albums and singles, which charted throughout the 70’s.
Even though they had musical success together, they could not find success in their marriage. They fought constantly, until one night when Jones came home tanked on whiskey and chased Wynette through their Nashville mansion with a loaded 30-30 rifle. They separated soon after. After the split they spoke rarely but reconnected in 1993 after the birth of Kyle and Ryan, the twin sons of their only child, Tamala Georgette Smith. In 1995 Tammy & George toured together.
Emily Robison & Charlie Robison
Emily Robison is one-third of one of the biggest acts in the history of country music, the Dixie Chicks. In 1998 she met country singer/songwriter Charlie Robison at Fan Fair. The two tied the knot at Cibilo Creek Ranch near Marfa, TX. Charlie is one of the most popular touring acts in his home state of Texas and has had his own success on the country charts.
One of the Chicks’ most famous songs, written by Emily’s sister Martie, was written for Emily’s wedding, ‘Cowboy Take Me Away.’ The two made their home on Charlie’s ranch near Bandera, TX. Together they have three children, Gus, Julianna, and Henry.
In 2008 Charlie filed for divorce. Reports say the split was amicable and the two share custody of the kids.
Rosanne Cash & Rodney Crowell
Rosanne Cash, daughter of Johnny Cash, grew up in a house surrounded by country music. In 1979 she married singer/songwriter Rodney Crowell and their musical marriage was a great one. With Crowell producing her records Rosanne became one of the biggest country stars of the 80’s, with #1 hits like, ‘Seven Year Ache,’ ‘My Baby Thinks He’s A Train,’ and ‘I Don’t Know Why You Don’t Want Me.’ Crowell’s solo career took off as well during this time, scoring #1 hits with songs like, ‘I Couldn’t Leave You If I Tried,’ ‘After All This Time,’ and a duet with Rosanne, ‘It’s Such A Small World.’ But their marriage was a tumultuous one and many of those turbulent emotions can be heard in their albums from that era. They divorced in 1992. Rodney stayed in Nashville and Rosanne moved to Manhattan. The two have three daughters: Caitlin, Chelsea, and Carrie and have recently performed together. Here’s their hit from 1988, ‘It’s Such A Small World.’
Shania Twain & Mutt Lange
Country pop superstar Shania Twain married big-time songwriter and record producer Robert John ‘Mutt’ Lange (AC DC, Def Leppard, Bryan Adams) on December 23, 1993. Just like Rosanne and Rodney she found big time success with her husband producing her record albums.
The two met when Mutt saw an early Shania video and through music industry contacts secured got phone number. They spent months talking on the phone before they met face-to-face. Their first collaboration was Shania’s second album, 1995’s The Woman In Me, which produced the hits, ‘Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under,’ ‘Any Man Of Mine,’ and the title track. It was this album that made Shania a country superstar. To date the album has sold more than 7.5 million copies. She and Mutt followed it with Come On Over (40 million albums sold) the album that made Shania an international superstar. In 2002 they released Shania’s double disc, Up! which has sold 5.4 million copies.
On May 15, 2008 a spokesperson for Mercury Nashville (Twain’s record label) announced that Twain and Lange were separating after Lange had an affair with Twain’s best friend, Marie-Anne Thiebaud. Their divorce was finalized on June 9, 2010. On December 20, 2010, Twain’s manager confirmed that Shania was engaged to Swiss business executive Frederic Thiebaud, the ex-husband of Marie-Anne Thiebaud. They were married on January 1, 2011. Twain and Lange have a son: Eja.
