About the song
In the golden age of country music, few names were bigger—or more soulful—than Tammy Wynette and George Jones. Individually, they were monuments to the genre: she, the First Lady of Country Music, and he, often considered the greatest living country singer of all time. But when their voices joined, especially on the classic 1976 duet “Golden Ring,” something extraordinary happened. Their chemistry—both on and off the stage—opened up America to a musical vision of the raw complexities of love, marriage, and regret.
When “Golden Ring” was released, Wynette and Jones were divorced. Their tumultuous marriage ended in 1975, marred by alcoholism, emotional instability, and the pressures of fame. But ironically, it was after their divorce that one of their most poignant collaborations came. “Golden Ring” tells the story of a couple buying wedding rings, building a life, and ultimately watching their love fade—all captured in the quiet symbolism of a simple gold ring. The story, steeped in poetry, is made all the more powerful by the real-life breakdown of their own relationship.
The public couldn’t help but feel the weight of truth behind the lyrics. And it was that truth that helped propel “Golden Ring” to number one in 1976. Their vocals—Jones’s mournful drawl and Wynette’s trembling conviction—blend with haunting authenticity. It’s more than a song; it’s a testimony.
Beyond the song, the 1970s marked a defining decade for both artists. Wynette’s earlier smash hit, “Stand By Your Man,” became a cultural landmark, while Jones released career-defining songs like “The Grand Tour.” Together and apart, they gave country music its emotional core, reminding listeners that pain, passion, and perseverance are all part of the human story. “Golden Ring” stands today not just as a classic duet but as a living artifact of country music history. It captured the souls of two artists at their most fragile, as America was evolving and a genre was exploring its emotional depths. Among country music legends, few have left a more lasting mark than Tammy Wynette and George Jones—and no song tells their story more powerfully than the one that began with a little gold band.
Video
Lyrics
In a pawn shop in Chicago
On a sunny summer day
A couple gazes at the wedding rings
There on display
She smiles n’ nods her head
As he says, “Honey that’s for you,
It’s not much, but it’s the best
That I can do”
Golden rings (golden ring) with one tiny little stone
Waiting there (waiting there) for someone to take you home
By itself (by itself) it’s just a cold metallic thing
Only love can make a golden wedding ring
In a little wedding chapel later on that afternoon
An old upright piano plays that old familiar tune
Tears roll down her cheeks
And happy thoughts run through her head
As he whispers low, “With this ring, I thee wed”
Golden ring (golden ring) with one tiny little stone
Shining ring (shining ring) now at last it’s found a home
By itself (by itself) it’s just a cold metallic thing
Only love can make a golden wedding ring
Ooo-ooo
In a small two room apartment
As they fought their final round
He says, “You won’t admit it,
But I know you’re leavin’ town”
She says, “One thing’s for certain,
I don’t love you any more”
And throws down the ring
As she walks out the door
Golden ring (golden ring) with one tiny little stone
Cast aside (cast aside) like the love that’s dead and gone
By itself (by itself) it’s just a cold metallic thing
Only love can make a golden wedding ring
In a pawn shop in Chicago
On a sunny summer day
A couple gazes at the wedding rings
There on display,
Golden ring
