The oldest daughter of the Mandrell musical family, Barbara, was born on Christmas Day, 1948. Both Irby and Mary Ellen, her parents, were musicians. In the early stages of her career, Mandrell sang cover versions of R&B and soul classics. She topped the Billboard country singles chart six times and reached the top ten an additional twenty-five times with her music. In the early 1980s, she also hosted a prime-time television show of her own, on which she performed musical numbers, danced, and performed comedic skits. And it wasn't just her voice that helped Mandrell win a slew of major accolades; she was also a skilled multi-instrumentalist.
▬Contents of this video▬ 00:00 - Intro 00:22 - Her Early Success, Career Slow–Down and Retirement 04:39 - The Crash That Dented Her Music Career 06:41 - Her Visit to the Opry for Her 50th Anniversary 08:05 - Outro
Mandrell released many singles in the early 1970s that fused country music with R&B and soul. On a regular basis, her singles would top the country music charts. Mandrell began frequently appearing on mainstream TV shows around the country. During this time, she made guest appearances on shows, including The Tonight Show, American Bandstand, and Bob Hope specials. Highlights include hosting the 1979 Academy of Country Music Awards and appearing on an episode of The Rockford Files, both in 1979. She starred as herself in the 1979 Christmas special Skinflint: A Christmas Carol, which also featured performances by numerous other prominent country musicians of the day. As early as 1980, she was hired by NBC to front a nationwide variety show. Barbara Mandrell and her sisters, Irlene and Louise, held a variety program under the name Barbara Mandrell & the Mandrell Sisters.
Despite being a two-time recipient of the Country Music Association's Entertainer of the Year award, Barabara Mandrell is rarely included in discussions of the genre's most important female performers. In the '70s and '80s, she was a major figure in country music's spotlight. That's why her decision to leave the music business came as a surprise to so many fans.
Barbara Mandrell Confirms Why She Walked Away From Music for Good
By: Facts Verse Title: Barbara Mandrell Confirms Why She Walked Away From Music for Good Sourced From: www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DQSnCpSbQs
