Even two years after their divorce, George Jones couldn't stay away from Tammy Wynette's Nashville home. Every time he'd drive up to the house they once shared, he'd circle the driveway a few times at high speed, almost as if he were trying to recapture some of the magic they'd had together. Then, he'd turn around and drive the two-hour journey back to Alabama, alone with his thoughts.

The Unforgettable Love Story of George and Tammy

Country music has rarely seen a love story as passionate, chart-topping, and heart-wrenching as the one between George Jones and Tammy Wynette. During their six-year marriage, the couple lived in a luxurious mansion boasting 14 bathrooms, traveled across the nation in a massive 12-bed bus emblazoned with "Mr. & Mrs. Country Music," and created music that resonated with millions. However, their love story was marred by George's battle with alcoholism and Tammy's dependence on prescription drugs. "They both had their own demons, and they couldn't overcome them," Tammy's daughter Jackie Daly confided exclusively to Closer.

From Cotton Fields to Nashville Stages

Tammy Wynette, who grew up on a cotton farm in Itawamba County, Mississippi, had admired George Jones from a young age. By the time they met in a Nashville recording studio in the late '60s, Tammy was already a star in her own right, known for her iconic hit "Stand By Your Man." Despite their mutual attraction, both were married to others at the time, so George kept his feelings to himself. But life had other plans. When Tammy returned home one day to find her daughters severely ill from food poisoning and her husband returning from a drinking binge, it became clear that something had to change. George seized the moment, declaring his love for Tammy. "I love Tammy, and she loves me too," George told Tammy's husband. That night, they gathered the kids and left together, starting a new chapter in their lives.

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tammy-wynette-and-george-jones. — Getty Images

Their marriage in 1966 was filled with both love and conflict. Tammy once recounted an incident where George, in a drunken rage, allegedly shot up their Florida home with a rifle — a claim he denied. Regardless, the event landed him in the hospital for 10 days. Meanwhile, Tammy struggled with prescription drug addiction after undergoing a hysterectomy following the birth of their daughter Georgette in 1970. "She viewed it like, 'It's just prescription drugs, so it must be okay,'" Jackie Daly explained. "But it wasn't. The dependency spiraled out of control."

A Divorce That Couldn't Break Their Bond

Despite the challenges, Tammy sometimes threatened divorce in hopes of motivating George to get sober. Unfortunately, by 1975, the threats became reality, and they officially parted ways. Even as they moved on and married others, their connection remained unshaken. They continued to record music and tour together, a testament to the enduring bond they shared. "I think we still love each other," George admitted in 1977. "I know I love her."

George eventually quit drinking in 1999 following a serious car crash, but it was too late for a second chance with Tammy, who passed away from a blood clot in 1998. In a heartfelt conversation with their daughter Georgette just weeks before Tammy's death, Tammy expressed her regret. "Your dad will always be the love of my life," she confided. "I wish things could have turned out differently, and that we'd met under better circumstances."