There have been lots of powerful projects about famous musicians to grace our screens over the years. Whether we were falling in love with Selena or Rocketman or singing along to Bohemian Rhapsody or Elvis, these types of biopics have allowed us to learn more about the people making the music that has often become the soundtrack to our lives. Jessica Chastain has already become pretty skilled at playing real-life people (including her Oscar-winning turn portraying Tammy Faye Bakker in The Eyes of Tammy Faye), and she’s taking on depicting another real-life person in Apple TV+’s upcoming crime thriller, The Savant. But Chastain gave perhaps one of her best performances ever, playing a celebrated musician in Showtime’s 2022 miniseries, George & Tammy.
‘George & Tammy’ Is a Compelling Biographical Miniseries
George & Tammy tells the story of two of country music’s most famous singers during their tumultuous love affair. Their story starts when George Jones (Michael Shannon), a well-known singer, is filling venues all over the country. In 1967, he crosses paths with a young wife and mother named Tammy Wynette (Chastain), who is hoping for her own big break. George’s big problem is that he’s an alcoholic, and sometimes can’t even make it onstage to perform after he’s had way too much to drink. When Tammy is asked to open up for George, there’s an instant spark, both musically and romantically. Tammy eventually decides to divorce her husband, take her children, and flee into George’s arms. Their musical collaborations are where the two really come together, but their love life is a lot more complicated. Their first duet, “Take Me,” becomes a huge hit, but their romance seems doomed from the start.
They break up and get back together multiple times (including their marriage from 1969 to 1975), but even more conflict arises when Tammy’s star starts to outshine George’s. She wrote, “Stand By Your Man,” which is still one of the most recognizable country music songs to this day. In a classic A Star Is Born vibe, George begins to drink even more as he sees Tammy’s ascent. But Tammy’s life isn’t without its own struggles. Her past is filled with heartbreak (especially when she’s forced to endure electric shock treatment after trying to leave her first husband in 1965).
Eventually, Tammy becomes addicted to pills after suffering from horrific health problems that leave her in constant pain. Although George and Tammy could have had a magical, flourishing relationship, the harmful effects of show business and of addiction threaten to tear them apart at every turn. George & Tammy not only captures what their careers were like during the golden age of country music, but it also perfectly illustrates how each of their downfalls transpired. There was definitely an intense love between the two, but both ended up living lives filled with tragedy.
Jessica Chastain Steals the Show in ‘George & Tammy’
Although there are many incredible performances in the miniseries, including Shannon and Steve Zahn as Tammy’s co-writer and manager, this is definitely a vehicle to show off Chastain’s immense talent. She portrays Tammy with a beautiful but broken spirit, and makes sure that we see that, as talented as Tammy was, she was also trampled down by the men in her life who often tried to control her. Tammy’s ability to shine in a misogynistic world comes across as both a fascinating strength and vulnerability, as she continues to feel tied to men that simply break her heart. It’s not easy being a woman in a male-dominated industry, but Chastain illustrates that Tammy was still able to carve out a place in country music history because of her extraordinary talent.
But it’s not just Chastain’s acting that allows Tammy to be depicted in a realistic way in the series. Most impressively, Chastain recorded her own vocals for all of the songs featured in the series and performed them live on set. This allows Tammy’s music to come alive in a way that makes the miniseries feel fresh and electrifying (even though these events took place many decades ago). Chastain is also able to truly capture the magic and connection that Tammy had with George.
A Collider reviewer noted that their chemistry “is captivating, and it lends itself easily to the story and answers the ‘why’ behind the sometimes puzzling choices made by who they’re portraying.” In fact, the connection Tammy had with George is the most important aspect of Chastain’s performance: it’s essential that the audience sees why Tammy decided to stay with George (or with any other man who ended up failing her). Tammy was stuck in a time period when she couldn’t get adequate help for her addiction, and institutions couldn’t see her independent spirit and unique talent for what it was. Although Wynette died fairly young, Chastain is still able to infuse this series with the magnetism that Tammy possessed so that younger generations can experience her light.
‘George & Tammy’ Easily Won Over Critics and Audiences
The six-episode series manages to effectively tell the toxic, yet still magical story of George and Tammy in a succinct and authentic way. Chastain landed a nomination for Best Actress in a Miniseries at the Golden Globes and at the Emmys, and won a SAG award for the part. Shannon was also nominated for an Emmy for his role as the complicated and doomed George.
George & Tammy is also incredibly successful at recreating a specific timeframe in country music, down to the historically accurate costumes and concerts, so that Tammy’s story comes to life. There’s even a scene where a kooky music video Tammy made is re-shot, down to the exact costumes and sets, so viewers could see what it looked like back in the 1970s. The production team’s attention to detail, along with Chastain’s performance, is the reason this series is so gripping to watch. Although George & Tammy is sort of in forgotten territory now, it holds up as a biographical series that’s still worth watching.
It’s obvious by now in Chastain’s long career that she can take on any challenging role, but anyone wishing to see her play a truly remarkable person in a truly remarkable project should watch George & Tammy. Aside from Chastain’s transcendent performance, getting to know more about the complex, yet fascinating lives of George and Tammy will always be time well spent.
George & Tammy is available to stream on Paramount+ in the U.S.
