Thelma Louise Mandrell (born July 13, 1954)[1] is an American country musicsinger. She is the younger sister of fellow country singer Barbara Mandrell, and older sister of actress Irlene Mandrell. Louise had a successful singing career in country music from the 1970s, with a string of hits during the 1980s.
Thelma Louise Mandrell was born in 1954,[2] to Mary Ellen (née McGill; born 1931) and Irby Matthew Mandrell (October 11, 1924 – March 5, 2009) in Corpus Christi, Texas, United States.[3] She is the second of three daughters. Sister Barbara is five and a half years older; sister Irlene is one and a half years younger. Her mother, Mary, was a homemaker and musician hailing from rural Wayne County, Illinois. Her father Irby was a World War II naval veteran and Texas police officer from Garland County, Arkansas. Irby Mandrell was an accomplished musician and entrepreneur as well. He used his impeccable social skills and knowledge of the music industry to manage all three of his daughters' careers for over three decades.
Although Louise Mandrell never developed the scale of fan base or the worldwide recognition that her older sister Barbara gained in country music, she is still credited as one of country music's more successful female vocalists of the 1980s. With their parents coming from a musical background, Barbara started off working as a singer, and playing the steel guitar and other instruments, and toured with Patsy Cline in the early 1960s.[4] Mandrell learned to play the guitar and bass. Soon, their parents founded the Mandrell Family Band, which toured the United States and Asia.
Mandrell released her first single in 1978, called "Put It On Me", which appeared in the lower reaches of Billboard magazine’s country music singles chart.[1] In 1979, she released her next single, a cover version of "Everlasting Love", another minor country hit.[1] She started singing duets with her husband R.C. Bannon, such as "I Thought You'd Never Ask," which entered the top 50, and a cover of the pop/R&B number 1 song by Peaches & Herb, "Reunited", which went to number 13, her first significant hit.[1] In 1980, following two more solo efforts that did not see the same success, she joined sisters Barbara and Irlene on the TV variety show Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters.[1] This show showcased not only her singing, but her multi-instrumental and comedy talents as well. In 1981, she signed with RCA Records. In 1982, Mandrell had two top 40 hits, as well as the top 20 hit "Some of My Best Friends Are Old Songs".
1983 turned out to be her most successful year. She entered the top 15 with "Runaway Heart," and had the two top 10 hits "Save Me" (originally recorded by Northern Irish singer Clodagh Rodgers) and "Too Hot to Sleep".[1] In 1984, Mandrell had two other Top 40 hits, "Goodbye Heartache" and "I'm Not Through Loving You Yet" (co-written by Holly Dunn), and in 1985 the song "I Wanna Say Yes" entered the top 5.
Mandrell's last studio album Dreamin' was released in 1987, with the single "I Wanna Hear It from Your Lips" and having her last top 40 hit with the single "Do I Have To Say Goodbye". Her last charted single came in 1988 with a cover of the song "As Long As We Got Each Other", a duet with Eric Carmen.[1] The latter was the theme song of the 1985-1992 television sitcom Growing Pains.
RCA and Mandrell parted ways in 1988. During the early 1990s, she released the videos and songs "Jean Paul" (written by R.C. Bannon) and "Down Home Christmas". Both songs are extremely hard to find, and “Jean Paul” appears in Anthology, a 1998 compilation album containing many of her successful hits from the Epic and RCA years, which is also hard to find.
Mandrell was named the official 'Sweetheart of Tennessee.'
She was the unanimous choice of 50 Tennessee city managers -- the first time the city manager's association has so honored anyone. Mandrell accepted 50 inscribed crimson hearts from the managers and, in return, entertained them with a few tunes. She also was named 1981's 'Yellow Rose of Texas' by the Texas state legislature, another first.
Personal life
Her marriage to Ronald Shaw on July 1, 1971, ended in divorce in 1973. She subsequently married Gary Lamar Buck of the country music group The Four Guys on July 23, 1975. They divorced in 1978.
In 1978, Mandrell met R.C. Bannon. They married on February 26, 1979. He co-wrote a few songs for Louise’s sister Barbara. "One of a Kind Pair of Fools" is a 1983 single written by Bannon and John Bettis and recorded by Barbara Mandrell. "Only One Love in My Life," also written by R.C. Bannon and John Bettis, was Ronnie Milsap's 10th number 1.
Mandrell and Bannon adopted Nicole Mandrell Shipley in 1986. The couple divorced in 1991 and she married, for a fourth time, to John Haywood on July 16, 1993.
She became a grandmother for the first time in 2013.
Theater and writing
After leaving RCA Records, Mandrell continued to perform. In 1991, The Nashville Network began re-airing Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters.
On September 12, 1997, Mandrell opened her own 1,400-seat theater, The Louise Mandrell Theater in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, in the heart of the Smoky Mountains in Tennessee, alongside other theaters such as Lee Greenwood's.[5] Mandrell appeared in every performance there and encompassed numerous musical styles, including country, jazz, and big band. It was considered the most attended (non-dinner) show in the Smoky Mountains.[citation needed] The Triumphant Quartet, formerly known as the Integrity Quartet, was the in-house Southern gospel group and back-up singers for Louise. The Louise Mandrell Theater had its last performance, to a sold-out house, on December 31, 2005. Mandrell sold the theater afterwards and it has changed hands twice since. The theater is now home to the "Smoky Mountain Opry."[citation needed]
In 1983, Mandrell co-wrote The Mandrell Family Album with writer Ace Collins. Later, they produced a series of children's books.
In 2012, she performed the title role of "Calamity Jane" at Roger Rocka's Dinner Theatre in Fresno, California through September 16, 2012. Mandrell reprised her role from July until September 15, 2019.[6]
Later career
Mandrell continues to perform at selected special occasions and corporate events.[citation needed] In December 2007, she performed in Washington, D.C., with the National Army band.[citation needed]
Over the Christmas and New Year seasons in 2008 and 2009, Mandrell performed at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville for one month.[citation needed] The multi-instrumental dinner show was entitled "Joy to the World". Mandrell also announced her intention to create a new show in 2010, "The Gift".[citation needed]
In 2009, she signed with Strouadavarious Records and announced her intention to release an album of country classics and a Christmas-themed album.[citation needed]
During 2011 and 2012, Mandrell joined fellow 80s country superstar Lee Greenwood on selected tour dates, including a six-week Branson run at the Welk Resort Theatre from September 12 —- October 22.[citation needed]
Mandrell's final Christmas show at Gaylord Opryland titled "Louise Mandrell's Christmas Dinner Party" took place on November 18 – December 25, 2011.
After 30 years, she released Playing Favorites, her most recent studio album consisting of country standards, on October 4, 2019. It was produced by Buddy Cannon.
Mandrell appeared on the Opry's country classic show in Nashville. The last time she performed on that stage was 50 years ago. The show was broadcast live on the radio program, Opry Country Classics at the Ryman Auditorium, October 3, 2019. She performed on the Grand Ole Opry live from the Ryman on November 30, 2019.
On July 30, 2022, Louise and Irlene joined the special Opry show celebrating the 50th year membership of sister Barbara Mandrell as a Opry member.
Louise once again took to the Opry stage in the Country classics segment on October 13, 2022, December 4, 2022, and March 9, 2023.
Commercial spokesperson
Outside of her musical career, Mandrell served as spokesperson for Sanderson Farms' Miss Goldy Chicken, appearing in several television commercials and print ads for two decades. She also participated in a series of commercials for RC Cola in the mid-1970s, singing the famous "Me and My RC" jingle. Most recently, Mandrell, along with Jimmy Fortune of The Statler Brothers, appeared in a half-hour infomercial for Time-Life, promoting the box set Classic Country (2022 edition).
Pop culture
In the 1980s, the Mandrell sisters were impersonated by the cast of Saturday Night Live on NBC. In 2007, Pam Tillis released a song called "Band in the Window", which name-checks Louise Mandrell ("her name is Louise but not Mandrell, she has 80's hair and fringe"). In 2023, Canadian country artist Lisa Brokop released her female-centric cover version of the George Jones country hit "Who's Gonna Fill Their Shoes" (as "Who's Gonna Fill Their Heels"), and it is where the Mandrell sisters are mentioned among the names of country’s greatest female artists.
Television appearances
Louise Mandrell appeared in the following TV shows:
Sylvia Jane Kirby, also known mononymously as Sylvia, is an American country music and country pop singer and songwriter. Her biggest hit, was her single "Nobody" in 1982. It reached number 15 on the Billboard Hot 100, number 5 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart, number 9 on the Cashbox Top 100, and number 1 on the Billboard Country Singles chart. The song earned her a gold record certification and a Grammy Award nomination for Best Female Country Vocal Performance. Her other country chart hits include "Drifter", "Fallin' in Love", "Tumbleweed" and "Snapshot". She was named Female Vocalist of the Year by the Academy of Country Music for 1982. She is also credited with making the first "concept" music video clip to air on Country Music Television (CMT), with "The Matador".
Ellen Muriel Deason, known professionally as Kitty Wells, was an American pioneering female country music singer. She broke down a barrier for women in country music with her 1952 hit recording "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels", which also made her the first female country singer to top the U.S. country charts and turned her into the first female country superstar. “It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels” would also be her first of several pop crossover hits. Wells is the only artist to be awarded top female vocalist awards for 14 consecutive years. Her chart-topping hits continued until the mid-1960s, paving the way for and inspiring a long list of female country singers who came to prominence in the 1960s.
Charlie McCoy is an American harmonica virtuoso and multi-instrumentalist in country music. He is best known for his harmonica solos on iconic recordings such as "Candy Man", "He Stopped Loving Her Today", "I Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool", and others. He was a member of the progressive country rock bands Area Code 615 and Barefoot Jerry. After recording with Bob Dylan in New York, McCoy is credited for unknowingly influencing Dylan to decide to come to Nashville to record the critically acclaimed 1966 album "Blonde on Blonde".
Barbara Ann Mandrell is a retired American country music singer and musician. She is also credited as an actress and author. During the late 1970s and early 1980s, she was considered among country's most successful music artists. She had six number one singles and 25 top ten singles reach the Billboard country songs chart. She also hosted her own prime–time television show in the early 1980s that featured music, dance numbers and comedy sketches. Mandrell also played a variety of musical instruments during her career that helped earn her a series of major–industry awards.
Marilyn Jeanne Seely is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, actress and author. Most notably identified with the country music genre, Seely found success with the Grammy Award-winning song "Don't Touch Me" (1966). Her soul-inspired vocal delivery gave her the nickname of "Miss Country Soul". Seely is also known for her membership and presence on the Grand Ole Opry, having appeared more times on the program than any other performer.
This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1980.
This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1981.
Holly Suzette Dunn was an American country music singer and songwriter. Dunn recorded for MTM Records between 1985 and 1988, Warner Bros. Records between 1988 and 1993, and River North Records between 1995 and 1997. She released 10 albums and charted 19 singles, plus two duets on the Hot Country Songs charts. Two of her single releases, "Are You Ever Gonna Love Me" and "You Really Had Me Going", went to No. 1 on that chart. Other songs for which she is known include "Daddy's Hands" and "Maybe I Mean Yes". Dunn's brother, Chris Waters, is a songwriter and record producer, having worked with both his sister and other artists in these capacities. Dunn retired from music in 2003, and died of ovarian cancer in 2016.
This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1954.
"Christmas in Dixie" is a song by American country band Alabama. It was released as a single in December 1982 from the RCA Nashville compilation album A Country Christmas. The Christmas song celebrates the holiday in the southern United States. This song was included on Alabama's first Christmas album released in 1985, and has since been included on many Christmas compilations in both the country and all-genre music fields. In 2017, Alabama updated the song by re-recording the unplugged version of it for their third Christmas album titled American Christmas which celebrated its 35th anniversary when they first released the song in 1982. It is the only song credited solely to the four band members, and the one of only two songs to feature a songwriting credit for drummer Mark Herndon.
Ellen Irlene Mandrell is an American musician. She is the younger sister of country singers Barbara and Louise Mandrell.
Eddie Kilroy is a country music producer. Currently he has a show on XM Satellite Radio's Willie's Place.
No Nonsense is the twenty-second solo studio album by American country artist Barbara Mandrell. The album was released on August 21, 1990, on Capitol Records and was produced by Jimmy Bowen. It was the second studio album Mandrell released in 1990 as well as her third release for the Capitol label.
R. C. Bannon is an American country music singer. Active since 1977, Bannon has recorded for the Columbia and RCA labels. He was also married to singer Louise Mandrell from 1979 to 1991, and charted six duets with her in addition to 12 singles of his own. His highest-charting single was his 1979 cover of the Peaches & Herb hit "Reunited," recorded as a duet with Mandrell, that reached number 13 on the country music charts in 1979; his most successful solo single is "Winners and Losers" at number 26. In addition to recording as a solo artist and with Mandrell, Bannon co-wrote songs for Ronnie Milsap, Bobby G. Rice, Barbara Mandrell and Steve Azar.
Daniel Joseph Schafer is an American pop, country music and Christian singer, guitarist, songwriter, and actor. He was a recording artist for RCA Records and moved from playing guitar in the studio to songwriting and touring with national country music artists.
Rhonda Kye Fleming is an American singer/songwriter and music publisher in Nashville, Tennessee. She is best known for writing a series of hit songs in the 1980s, making productive collaborations with artists Ronnie Milsap and Barbara Mandrell. Fleming was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2009 and has won more than 42 BMI Awards, including BMI Songwriter of the Year for 3 consecutive years (1981–83). Fifteen of her compositions have achieved a benchmark of one million performances each. Some of Fleming's most successful songs include: "I Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool", "Sleeping Single in a Double Bed", "Smoky Mountain Rain", "Years", "I Wouldn't Have Missed It for the World", "Nobody"," and "Give Me Wings". In 2012, she was an honoree of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum's Poets and Prophets series which honors songwriters deemed to have made a significant contribution to country music. The series featured an extended interview with Fleming before an audience at the Country Music Hall of Fame, and film clips, recordings, and photos of Fleming's life work and awards.
Bernie Tom Collins is an American music producer and publisher in Nashville, Tennessee who has received three CMA Awards as Producer of the Year, and seven Grammy nominations. He produced a steady stream of country music hits over a 30-year span from artists including Ronnie Milsap, Barbara Mandrell, Sylvia, Tom T. Hall, Jim Ed Brown, James Galway, Marie Osmond, and Steve Wariner. Collins served as chairman of the Board of the CMA in 1979 and 1980.
The Smoky Mountain Opry Theater was a theater established in 1997 in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, United States.
Get to the Heart: The Barbara Mandrell Story is a 1997 biographical television film directed by Jerry London from a teleplay by Linda Bergman, based on American country music singer Barbara Mandrell's 1990 autobiography Get to the Heart: My Story. The film chronicles the life and career of Mandrell, from her early years in her family's band to her rise to country music fame, and the 1984 car accident that nearly ended her career. It stars Maureen McCormick in the title role, along with Dwight Schultz, Greg Kean, and Lisa Blount in supporting roles.
Barbara Mandrell & the Mandrell Sisters is an American variety show starring American country artist Barbara Mandrell, along with her sisters Irlene Mandrell and Louise Mandrell. The show ran for two seasons on the NBC network between November 1980 and June 1982. The program mixed both music and comedy sketches. The siblings often engaged in sketches involving their family relationship. The music of the show featured the sisters singing and playing a variety of musical instruments. Guest performers were also a part of every show. The show ended its run after Barbara Mandrell decided to step away due to the constant workload.
↑ Battle, Bob (December 17, 1996). "Louise Mandrell to add theater to Pigeon Forge". Nashville Banner. In the latest in a series of major entertainment features in the Smokies, singer Louise Mandrell plans to open her proposed 1,400-seat theater in the Music Road Entertainment Park at Pigeon Forge, Tenn., in the fall of 1997.
↑ "Categories". Rogerrockas.com. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
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