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Country Throwback: Watch an Emotional Tammy Wynette Win the 1991 Living Legend Award

Country singer-songwriter Tammy Wynette definitely went through her struggles in life. In 1991, she received an award honoring her conquering of adversity.

Wynette gets emotional while accepting the Living Legend Award at the 1991 Music City News Country Awards.

Merle Haggard, a country legend himself, announces Wynette’s honor to the crowd. A camera shot of Tammy Wynette shows her shaking her head back and forth as if to say, “What’s going on here?”

Additionally, a number of highlights from Wynette’s career follow, talking about her youth all the way up to performing on the country music scene.

Tammy Wynette Tearfully Accepts Honor From Fans

The show comes back to have Haggard introduce Wynette, who is now on stage, as “The First Lady of Country Music.”

A tearful Wynette said, “You know, I’ve been lucky enough to win every award anybody could ever wish for,” she said, “and I never thought I’d win another one.

“This feels like 1968 all over again,” Wynette said in reference to her biggest hit, “Stand By Your Man,” that year. By the way, Tammy Wynette is the first country music female artist to have a million-selling album. She totals 20 No. 1 singles in her career, too.

“And I just want to say thank you to you, first of all, the fans.” She goes on to thank others, including CBS Records, with whom Wynette said she’d been with them for 25 years.

Wynette Gives Thanks To George Jones, Her Family

“Thanks to George Jones for making some wonderful duets,” Tammy Wynette said of her ex-husband. Their relationship was not always the best one. People wanted them to become country music’s next big couple alongside Johnny and June Carter Cash. That did not happen.

“Thanks to my wonderful family for putting up with me all these years, never being there when they had a birthday party,” she said.

“Most of all, I want to say thank you to my mother for falling in love with my father and bringing forth something with lungs as loud as mine,” Wynette said. “I’m not the best but I am loud and I love you so much.”

Here’s a clip of Tammy Wynette accepting the award from Merle Haggard.

Tammy Wynette died in her sleep in 1998 in Nashville, Tenn., at 55 years old.

Despite her tough years and life, Wynette remains a beacon of light for country music female artists. Her songs and style continue to influence many people.

She may be gone but is defintely not forgotten.