Barbara Mandrell
Before we get started with today's post, let's go over the Battle of the Bands Results.
The battle was a cover of 'Angel In Your Arms', with the contenders being Barbara Mandrell and Queen Emily. There was low voter turnout which makes me a little sad, but it was fun watching the votes go back and forth.
Thank you everyone for indulging me with your vote! We'll have a new round of battles on October 16th, with new songs and new contenders.
Now onto today's regular post:
Barbara Mandrell is an American country music singer, musician, and actress. She is known for a series of top-10 hits and TV shows in the 1970s and 1980s that helped her become one of country's most successful female vocalists of that period. She was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2009 and is a member of the Grand Ole Opry.
Mandrell was the first performer to win the Country Music Association's "Entertainer of the Year" award twice. She also won twice the Country Music Association's "Female Vocalist of the Year" in 1979 and 1981.
Mandrell's first Billboard number-one hit was 1978's "Sleeping Single in a Double Bed", immediately followed by "(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want to Be Right" in early 1979. In 1980, "Years" also reached number one. She added one more chart topper in each of the next three years. "I Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool" (her signature song), then "'Till You're Gone" and "One of a Kind, Pair of Fools"—all hit number one between 1981 and 1983, a period during which Mandrell also received numerous industry awards and accolades.
In 1980, the TV program Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters premiered on NBC. In addition to hosts Barbara, Louise, and Irlene, the show featured musical guests and comedy sketches. Each broadcast also closed with a gospel song, which led to Mandrell recording her own inspirational album, He Set My Life to Music (1982). As a result of her busy schedule, she began suffering from vocal strain, and on doctor's orders, pulled the plug on the television program in 1982.
While Mandrell was at the peak of her popularity, she had a major setback when she was involved in a serious automobile crash on September 11, 1984. According to Toni Reinhold in Redbook, the singer "sustained multiple fractures in her right leg, including a broken thigh bone, knee, and ankle. She also suffered lacerations and abrasions and a severe concussion that caused temporary memory loss, confusion, and speech difficulties." After a year and a half of rehabilitation, she recovered and returned to recording and performing. Mandrell told interviewers that the crash made her reassess her priorities; she retired in November 1997, 13 years after the crash, and now spends more time with her family.
Mandrell had the starring role in Burning Rage alongside Tom Wopat in 1984 just prior to her car accident. Later, she also had guest-star roles on hit shows, including: Touched By An Angel, Empty Nest, Diagnosis: Murder, Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, The Commish, Baywatch, Walker, Texas Ranger, and Rockford Files. She also had a recurring role in the late 1990s on Aaron Spelling's daytime drama, Sunset Beach. Spelling was a big fan of hers and wanted to incorporate her into one of his shows.
Before the most recent battle of the bands, had you heard of Barbara Mandrell before? Had you seen any of her work as an actress, or did you watch her variety show?
The battle was a cover of 'Angel In Your Arms', with the contenders being Barbara Mandrell and Queen Emily. There was low voter turnout which makes me a little sad, but it was fun watching the votes go back and forth.
The final results:
Barbara Mandrell with 5 votes
Queen Emily with 3 votes
Thank you everyone for indulging me with your vote! We'll have a new round of battles on October 16th, with new songs and new contenders.
Now onto today's regular post:
Barbara Mandrell
Barbara Mandrell is an American country music singer, musician, and actress. She is known for a series of top-10 hits and TV shows in the 1970s and 1980s that helped her become one of country's most successful female vocalists of that period. She was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2009 and is a member of the Grand Ole Opry.
Mandrell's first Billboard number-one hit was 1978's "Sleeping Single in a Double Bed", immediately followed by "(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want to Be Right" in early 1979. In 1980, "Years" also reached number one. She added one more chart topper in each of the next three years. "I Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool" (her signature song), then "'Till You're Gone" and "One of a Kind, Pair of Fools"—all hit number one between 1981 and 1983, a period during which Mandrell also received numerous industry awards and accolades.
Mandrell had the starring role in Burning Rage alongside Tom Wopat in 1984 just prior to her car accident. Later, she also had guest-star roles on hit shows, including: Touched By An Angel, Empty Nest, Diagnosis: Murder, Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, The Commish, Baywatch, Walker, Texas Ranger, and Rockford Files. She also had a recurring role in the late 1990s on Aaron Spelling's daytime drama, Sunset Beach. Spelling was a big fan of hers and wanted to incorporate her into one of his shows.
Before the most recent battle of the bands, had you heard of Barbara Mandrell before? Had you seen any of her work as an actress, or did you watch her variety show?
I used to watch the variety show quite a bit,she was a engaging and charming singer full of energy and joy. I do recall her accident,she was so badly injured,it is amazing she made it back most of the way.
ReplyDeleteI had to laugh a little, as I used to watch the variety show as well when I was younger, and then just the other day I realized that many of her songs have to do with infidelity. Seems I was young and naive back in those days.
DeleteMMQE ~
ReplyDeleteI'm glad Barbara beat the fake Queen, but what a bummer that your voter turnout was so low. Mine was lower than usual, too, but not Single-Digits Low.
I'm not so sure this Once-A-Month BOTB schedule was such a great idea after all. It seems it's affected the momentum and enthusiasm. I think across-the-board the voter turnouts have been down ever since we went to just the 15th. (Not that I'm going back to twice a month, though.)
However, it could also just be that blogging seems to be in decline generally. Maybe it was a fad that is now fading, being replaced by YouTube channels for the Millennials who never learned how to read and think.
~ D-FensDogG
Stephen T. McCarthy Reviews...
Stephen, darlin'
DeleteMy personal thoughts on the issue is that this is just a busy time of year for many people. Students are getting settled back into school, and let's not forget that we've had some fairly horrific events lately - The west was on fire, the south was pounded by rain and hurricanes, and there have been some devastating earthquakes. I just think that people are having other priorities at the moment. Hopefully they will come back soon.
I prefer the once a month battle to the twice a month, as it gives my brain a moment to think - plus it allows me to come up with other types of posts. Of course, I do miss all of our regulars that we once had.
I appreciate you taking the time to stop in to say hello.
~Mary
I think you nailed the primary reasons for the low turn-outs of late. I've been able to get psyched up enough to vote on Battles, but not much else in the realm of commenting or posting. I keep intending to post more and then I just lose my motivation. I'll still be on my 2 Battle a month schedule at least in October and then I'll see what I should do after that.
ReplyDeleteMaybe I'll do more reading or watching TV. Somehow lately blogging has been making me feel kind of sad--all social media has been depressing me to some extent.
Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out
I know what you mean, Lee. Last week, I posted my two posts for the week, but I was lacking quite a bit of motivation to respond to any of the comments. I felt numb, and my brain had gone blank.
DeleteHopefully, I'm getting back on track. I miss seeing everyone else's posts, too.
~Mary
Honestly I had never really heard of Barbara Mandrell, but she really was an example for our society!
ReplyDeleteOh, wow! I'd forgotten all about Barbara Mandrell. Not a fan of country music, I liked her personality. I'm glad she recovered from her accident over time. What a trial. Sorry I missed this before. I was at the beach. ~grin~ That vacation sure went fast. Be well!
ReplyDelete