“Kids Say The Darndest Things,” Tammy Wynette’s 14th No. 1 Hit

After her songs “I Don’t Wanna Play House” and “D-I-V-O-R-C-E,” Tammy Wynette released a song that offered a children’s perspective on domestic problems. Even though these numbers helped to provide her a special group of audience in country music, she hardly noticed their similarities during her time as a mother raising children alone.

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The Children’s Songs

Producer Billy Sherrill likes the results of these singles. Sherrill likes to return to the children’s theme often. In 1973, He borrowed the title of Art Linkletter’s phrase “Kids Say The Darndest Things” to make another No. 1 Hit.

Tammy Wynette thought that the song was cute. The song provided parents with what to do to get out of tight situations with their children without being so serious.  Unfortunately, Sherrill wasn’t serious about copyright infringement. The song never could’ve been a song if it weren’t for a ruling from the CBS legal department.

Over the year, Billy Sherrill had written a few children’s songs. In fact, those songs were enough for a full album. His idea was for Tammy Wynette to record those songs and call the album “Kids Say The Darndest Things.” However, when Billy checked with the CBS legal department, they couldn’t use the phrase. Unless, they had a song that is titled, “Kids Say The Darndest Things” in the album. This was the reason why they have made the song “Kids Say The Darndest Things.”

The Success

After Billy Sherrill and Glenn Sutton finished the song, they approached Art Linkletter personally to ask permission to use the phrase “Kids Say The Darndest Things.” Being a kind man that he is, Linkletter graciously gave the permission for Sherill and Sutton to use the phrase “Kids Say The Darndest Things” for their song and album. Sherrill had the original document from CBS, personally signed by Art Linkletter. He also gave a copy to Tammy Wynette.

“Kids Say The Darndest Things” became Tammy Wynette’s 14^th No. 1 song on June 16, 1973, when it reached the summit of Billboard’s Hot Country Singles.

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