Vanity Fair has released the first photos from Paramount’s forthcoming miniseries, George and Tammy, in which Jessica Chastain and Michael Shannon play country music titans, Tammy Wynette and George Jones. Australian-Canadian director John Hillcoat will be at the helm of the Abe Sylvia-conceived picture (The Eyes of Tammy Faye). Mr and Mrs Country Music of the ’70s, as they were affectionately known, recorded a string of successes together, including “We’re Gonna Hold On,” “Let’s Build a World Together,” “Near You,” and “Golden Ring.” Their union propelled both of their professions to new heights, but it was not without its share of difficulties. Both had been married before meeting one other. They separated in 1975 but remained close until Wynette’s death in 1988.
They have three number-one songs and a total of fourteen top-ten successes on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. Both Shannon and Chastain enrolled in singing lessons to get into character, and they nailed some of the show’s most memorable tunes. “These songs are quite deep and they’ve got some dark edges in them,” says Shannon, “and it’s a terrible narrative, but it’s also a very romantic one.” Also, he says, “the music educated us about who the individuals were and the tale we were portraying.” Chastain has been attached to the project from its inception as a film in 2011, and she also serves as a producer through her firm, Freckle Films. She said, “I started to listen to the music and recognised that they were continually singing to one other.” She was deeply affected by their love story. He said it was “the scariest thing I’ve ever done” to sing in front of a theatre full of extras.
Although guitarist Shannon considers Jones to be among the best vocalists he’s ever heard, he acknowledges that “it’s obviously a fool’s errand to attempt to perfectly mimic him” since “there will never be another one like him,” which is part of the reason Jones has achieved legendary status. According to him, singing was difficult for Jones since he “would perform for his father with whom he had a type of troubled connection.” Both Chastain and Shannon have had stellar performances in the past, so it will be fascinating to see how they tackle the role of country music’s elite. The performers, judging by the preview photos, appear to have done a fantastic job of portraying George and Tammy at different ages. Steve Zahn, Kelly McCormack, Katy Mixon, and Walton Goggins also feature in the 6-episode series.
A premiere for George and Tammy is planned for later in 2022.