George Jones and Tammy Wynette’s 1976 country hit about a wedding ring was “Golden Ring.”
Written by Bobby Braddock and Rafe Van Hoy, “Golden Ring” presents a marriage through the changing meaning of a simple ring. The song moves from a couple’s wedding through separation and divorce, emphasizing how an object can outlast the relationship it symbolizes.
Jones and Wynette recorded the song during their period as one of country music’s most famous married couples and duet partnerships. It became a major hit and is frequently cited among their signature collaborations.
The song is sometimes confused with “We’re Gonna Hold On,” another important Jones-Wynette duet. That earlier recording is also about marriage, but “Golden Ring” is the one built around the ring’s journey from a jewelry store to a pawn shop.