Barbara Mandrell
- Hit songs include "Sleeping Single in a Double Bed," "(If Loving You is Wrong) I Don't Want to Be Right," and "I Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool"
- Member of Country Gospel Hall of Fame, Steel Guitar Hall of Fame, Country Music Hall of Fame, and Musicians Hall of Fame
- More than 75 major awards, including CMA Awards, ACM Awards, Grammys, Dove Awards, and People's Choice Awards
Barbara Mandrell is a true star in the very best sense of the word. At age 11, her father took her to a music trade show in Chicago where she performed and caught the attention of legendary country guitarist, "Uncle" Joe Maphis and became a regular cast member on the "Town Hall Party" TV show in California. At age 13, her first touring dates were with The Johnny Cash Show, which included Cash, Patsy Cline, George Jones, and June Carter. Mandrell signed with CBS Records in 1969, debuting with Otis Redding's "I've Been Loving You Too Long," and unveiling her trademark blue-eyed soul style that was an instant hit with radio stations. In 1972 she fulfilled a lifelong dream by becoming a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Her first No. 1 hit, "Midnight Oil," came in 1973.
Barbara's music career, spanning nearly four decades, earned her over 75 major awards, including two consecutive CMA Entertainer of the Year awards (1980 and 1981, making her the first artist ever to win two years in a row), CMA Female Vocalist of the Year (1979 and 1981), ACM Top Female Country Music Vocalist (1980 and 1986), NARAS Grammy Award for the Best Inspirational Performance (1983), Grammy Award for Best Soul Gospel Performance (1984), Dove Award for Gospel Album of the Year (1983), and nine People's Choice Awards (1983-1987).
She is one of only six artists to have received the "Triple Crown" by winning all three of the most coveted awards, Top New Female, Top Female, and Entertainer of the Year. Her NBC variety show, "Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters" drew nearly 40 million viewers weekly and introduced a nation to country music. In the year 2000, the Academy of Country Music honored Barbara with their most prestigious award, The Pioneer Award. In 2006, country music greats including Randy Owen of Alabama, Sara Evans, Kenny Chesney, Reba McEntire, and Brad Paisley (among others), came together to honor Barbara with the BNA album, "She Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool: A Tribute to Barbara Mandrell."
Inducted to the Music City Walk of Fame on November 5, 2007.
