70 Facts About Barbara Mandrell

1.

Barbara Ann Mandrell was born on December 25,1948 and is an American country music singer and musician.

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2.

Barbara Mandrell had six number one singles and 25 top ten singles reach the Billboard country songs chart.

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3.

Barbara Mandrell hosted her own prime–time television show in the early 1980s that featured music, dance numbers and comedy sketches.

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4.

Barbara Mandrell was born in Texas and raised mostly in California.

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5.

Barbara Mandrell's family formed a band in her late teens which traveled overseas and entertained military bases.

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6.

Barbara Mandrell became a headlining concert attraction and won several major–industry awards including the Entertainer of the Year accolade from the Country Music Association.

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7.

Barbara Mandrell resumed performing, appearing live in concert and acting on television.

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8.

Barbara Mandrell appeared in several television films and shows during the late 1980s and 1990s like Burning Rage and Empty Nest.

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9.

Barbara Mandrell continued recording into the 1990s, releasing several albums for the Capitol label including No Nonsense.

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10.

In 1997, Barbara Mandrell announced her retirement from performing and recording.

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11.

Barbara Mandrell was the eldest daughter born to parents Mary Ellen and Irby Mandrell.

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12.

Barbara Mandrell's two sisters, Irlene and Louise, were born in the city.

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13.

Mary Ellen Barbara Mandrell taught her daughter how to play the accordion and read music before she entering first grade.

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14.

Barbara Mandrell was heard by country performer Joe Maphis who would help launch Mandrell's early career as a musician.

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15.

Barbara Mandrell performed steel guitar for Red Foley, Little Jimmy Dickens and Tex Ritter.

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16.

Shortly after high school graduation, Barbara Mandrell married Ken Dudney and chose to retire from performing to become a full-time housewife.

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17.

In 1969, Barbara Mandrell signed with Sherill's label Columbia Records as a recording artist.

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18.

Barbara Mandrell reached her commercial zenith in the late 1970s with songs about infidelity and cheating.

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19.

Barbara Mandrell's 1979 album Just for the Record was a top ten Billboard LP.

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20.

Barbara Mandrell appeared on national television programs and won the Country Music Association's 1979 Female Vocalist of the Year accolade.

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21.

Barbara Mandrell had top ten country singles with 1980's "Crackers" and "The Best of Strangers".

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22.

Barbara Mandrell's 1984 album was a top ten Billboard disc and featured the top five singles "Only a Lonely Heart Knows" and "Happy Birthday Dear Heartache".

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23.

Barbara Mandrell's popularity allowed her to record an album of gospel music in 1982 titled He Set My Life to Music.

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24.

Barbara Mandrell collaborated on several duets with Lee Greenwood in 1984.

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25.

Barbara Mandrell eventually returned to the recording studio in May 1985, which resulted in the 1985 top ten country single "There's No Love in Tennessee".

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26.

Barbara Mandrell returned to the stage for the first time in 1986 at the Los Angeles Universal Amphitheatre, with Dolly Parton serving as her opening act.

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27.

Yet, Barbara Mandrell continued touring and remained a popular concert attraction through the 1980s and 1990s.

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28.

Barbara Mandrell's first Capitol single was a cover of Ray Price's "I Wish I Could Fall in Love Today", which reached the top five of the American and Canadian singles charts.

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29.

Barbara Mandrell remained a popular act on the Grand Ole Opry, including their televised portion of the program.

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30.

Also in 1997, Barbara Mandrell announced her retirement from touring, recording and performing.

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31.

Barbara Mandrell gave her final musical performance in October 1997 at the Grand Ole Opry house.

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32.

Barbara Mandrell now spends time on her family and domestic responsibilities.

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33.

Barbara Mandrell was given multiple offers from the NBC network to host her own syndicated show.

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34.

Barbara Mandrell learned choreography for the show and was routinely featured playing multiple musical instruments.

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35.

Barbara Mandrell often had to push back against NBC executives who insisted that the show feature hay barrels and other features of traditional country-western shows.

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36.

Barbara Mandrell often had to take extra naps on her tour bus parked next to the television studio.

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37.

Barbara Mandrell had to take Cortisone shots before show tapings so that her vocal chords had less strain.

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38.

Barbara Mandrell was urged to quit the show by physicians who warned that she would ultimately suffer from permanent vocal damage.

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39.

In 1982, Barbara Mandrell announced the program would end after a two-year run on NBC.

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40.

In 1984, Barbara Mandrell debuted in her first television film titled Burning Rage.

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41.

Barbara Mandrell played the main role of a geologist who investigates coal mining fires underneath a town in Tennessee.

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42.

Barbara Mandrell made appearances on talk shows and network programs during the late 1980s and early 1990s.

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43.

Barbara Mandrell was featured in several television commercials for food products.

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44.

In 1994, Barbara Mandrell played a guest role in an episode of ABC's The Commish.

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45.

In 1997, Barbara Mandrell gave up her music career to focus on acting full-time.

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46.

Barbara Mandrell signed with the Creative Artists Agency, which helped her acquire more television roles.

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47.

Barbara Mandrell appeared as a recurring character in the soap opera Sunset Beach.

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48.

In 1999, Barbara Mandrell played the mother of a deceased son who finds conflict with his "controlling girlfriend".

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49.

Barbara Mandrell said that she can play the guitar and mandolin "if necessary".

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50.

Writers found that Barbara Mandrell had her greatest commercial success with songs that incorporated subjects of cheating.

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51.

Barbara Mandrell's singing voice has been the subject of discussion amongst writers and critics.

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52.

Barbara Mandrell has been widely considered among country music's most successful artists and all–around entertainers.

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53.

Barbara Mandrell has been credited as an influence for Terri Clark, Reba McEntire, and Carly Pearce.

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54.

Barbara Mandrell has been only one of a few women to win the Country Music Association's Entertainer of the Year award.

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55.

Barbara Mandrell was the first individual to win the accolade in back to back years.

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56.

Barbara Mandrell is only one of several people to have since won the award.

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57.

In 2009, Barbara Mandrell was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

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58.

Barbara Mandrell was inducted that year along with Roy Clark and Charlie McCoy.

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59.

Barbara Mandrell's induction was celebrated that year at the Country Music Association Awards where Mandrell gave a speech to thank the industry.

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60.

Barbara Mandrell's legacy was further cemented she released her 1990 autobiography called Get to the Heart: My Story.

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61.

Barbara Mandrell was portrayed in the film by television actress Maureen McCormick.

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62.

Barbara Mandrell briefly made a cameo appearance at the beginning and end of the film.

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63.

In July 2022, Barbara Mandrell celebrated 50 years as a member of the Grand Ole Opry.

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64.

Barbara Mandrell has been married to former musician and Navy pilot Ken Dudney since 1967.

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65.

Barbara Mandrell then began a new career with a company that works to place people with addiction issues into appropriate rehabilitation facilities.

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66.

Barbara Mandrell explained that she still suffers from pain in her ankle.

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67.

Barbara Mandrell credited wearing a seat belt to saving her and her children's lives.

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68.

Barbara Mandrell campaigned and filmed television commercials that advocated for the use of seat belts in cars.

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69.

Barbara Mandrell was made the honorary chairman of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in 1985.

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70.

Barbara Mandrell has won many awards for her work as an entertainer.

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