Who instantly comes to mind when you think of the most recognizable female country stars ever? You probably immediately think of artists like Dolly Parton, Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, and Reba McEntire, but what about Barbara Mandrell? Mandrell was one of the most popular country performers during the 1970s and 1980s. He was twice named Entertainer of the Year at the Country Music Awards (via Taste of Country) and was the recipient of two Grammys.
After a concert at the Grand Ole Opry House, she decided to retire in 1997 at the age of barely 48 and promptly disappeared from the public view. She hasn’t made many headlines or public appearances related to her music career since then; instead, she spends her time painting, gardening, and spending time with her family and pets (via CBN). Why would such a popular celebrity suddenly decide to retire and fade from view? Here is the actual cause of Barbara Mandrell’s disappearance.
Barbara Mandrell must have thought the world was at her feet in the early 1980s. She was a hugely popular country crossover sensation who was receiving accolades left and right. In addition to her singing career, she also entered the television industry. But in 1984, at the height of her fame, she found herself in the midst of a catastrophe. She was involved in a fatal car accident on September 11 of that same year. The other driver was killed.
Two of Mandrell’s children who were in the car with her also sustained injuries, including a concussion and a leg fracture (via The New York Times). Mandrell had to rehabilitate for an entire year and a half before she could resume her musical career. Since the accident, she has dedicated her life to advocating for the usage of seatbelts even though her children weren’t wearing them at the time of the collision (source: Chicago Tribune).
Mandrell and her husband Ken Dudney faced criticism from fans when they sued Mark White’s family for $10.3 million in damages, despite their lawyer later explaining that they had to sue in order to get money from the insurance company. The other driver, 19-year-old Mark White, was found to have crossed the center line of the road, which is what caused the collision, according to the police report from the incident (via UPI).
Despite that difficult period in the middle of the 1980s, Barbara Mandrell was able to somewhat restore her career. She advanced to the top of the American country music chart over the course of the following ten years. Additionally, her 1990 autobiography “Get to the Heart: My Story” was a huge success and spent more than three months as a New York Times bestseller before being adapted into a popular CBS film in 1997. (via Variety). However, following a performance at the Grand Ole Opry that year, Mandrell announced his retirement (via K-Law).
Taste of Country reported that she left just because she wanted to spend more time with her family, particularly her son, who is in high school. Even after selling her instruments, she hardly ever performed afterwards, preferring to spend time with her family at home. Despite this, she continued to play Alex Mitchum in “Sunset Beach” in her regular role until 1998. This was after Mandrell’s final concert appearance (via IMDb).
It doesn’t seem likely that Mandrell will appear much more in the future. She is now in her seventies, has been largely inactive since the year 2000, and seems content with life in the background.
Although Barbara Mandrell stopped performing and recording music professionally, her music is still heard today. She was admitted to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2009 (source: NWTN Today). As Mandrell praised her father, Irby, for helping launch her career, superstars including Reba McEntire, Michael McDonald, and Louise sang songs in honor of Barbara. Irby passed away at the age of 84 barely two months before to the event (via Los Angeles Times).
“Throughout my 38-year career, Irby Mandrell served as both my manager and my father. He instructed, led, and taught me “the country singer claimed. “I am fortunate to have his name, Mandrell, and our name has become well-known thanks to the kind-hearted public and fans. So tonight, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for inducting Mandrell’s name into the Hall of Fame.”
The first number-one country song that Mandrell had back in 1978, “Sleeping Single in a Double Bed,” was remixed in 2020 by producer and DJ Dave Aude, who has collaborated with celebrities like Rihanna and Beyoncé (via Rolling Stone). Mandrell praised the finished item and said, “Oh my goodness, I was happy. I’m pleased because of how well the arrangement and beat work together.”
Living legend Barbara Mandrell triumphantly returned to the Grand Ole Opry stage in Nashville on July 30, 2022, over three decades after she had retired, to commemorate her 50th anniversary with the country music Mecca. Mandrell, who is currently the 10th-oldest active inducted member, said of the Grand Ole Opry, “It feels cozy and like home,” according to USA Today. She added that being inducted into its illustrious halls in 1972, at the age of just 23, was “one of the happiest moments of her career.”
Mandrell refuses to let country music’s occasionally shady reputation deter her from continuing to adore the genre she has her entire life. Carrie Underwood reminded the assembled crowd that Mandrell is the reason she is where she is today. Carrie Underwood was one of the night’s all-female performers. Underwood exclaimed, “She has been such an inspiration to me and so many others who stand on the shoulders of great female artists like her.” Notably, Mandrell observed her soundcheck and reciprocated her support.
The country singer later expressed her gratitude to everyone on Instagram by sharing images from the event and gushing, “”Thank you to the @opry for celebrating me and welcoming me home, whether you were there in person or watching from home. I felt so much love from each of you, and I wish you could know how you made me feel. My goodness, I adore the Opry!”
