Country Icon Barbara Mandrell Will Make a Special Appearance at NBC's Opry 100 Special
Delivering country classics for decades, Barbara Mandrell's impact on the genre remains strong.
NBC's Opry 100: A Live Celebration is set to be jam-packed with performances from the country's grandest stars, and in honor of the milestone anniversary, fans will get the chance to celebrate a bona fide country titan, Barbara Mandrell.
Mandrell's mark on the country genre is indelible. As a certified trailblazer of country music, Mandrell broke barriers for female country artists and became one of the most influential entertainers of her time. Mandrell's career is an astonishing road; with decades of hits, awards, acting roles, and sold-out venues, she's earned her title as a country icon.
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As the world gathers to celebrate the Opry's milestone, there's no better time to look back on the grand career of Barbara Mandrell — a true country music pioneer who was inducted into the Opry over 50 years.
Barbara Mandrell's love for music goes back to her childhood
Mandrell's love for music began young; after mastering instruments like the steel guitar, banjo, and saxophone, she gained the title "The Princess of Steel" as a preteen. According to CMT, Mandrell spent her summers as a teenager performing in Las Vegas with major country stars like Red Foley, Tex Ritter, and Jimmy Dickens, soaking up their industry knowledge like "a sponge." Mandrell was writing her own music by her 20s, quickly gaining a reputation as both a talented performer and an innovative artist.
Throughout the early 1970s, Mandrell gained traction with albums like Treat Him Right and The Midnight Oil. Mandrell was making moves on the charts but managed meteoric fame after signing with ABC/Dot Records, where she soon became one of the genre's biggest hitmakers.
Barbara Mandrell's country music and entertainment career spans several decades
Mandrell was one of the biggest country-pop stars of the '70s and '80s, within a pantheon of country queens like Dolly Parton and Reba McEntire. Songs like "Sleeping Singles in Double Bed" and "(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want to Be Right" showcased Mandell's ability to blend traditional country influences with the new wave pop sound. Mandrell carried that cross-genre appeal into the 1980s, which delivered beloved hits like "I Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool" and "One of a Kind Pair of Fools."
Whether tackling a heartfelt ballad or energetic honky-tonk hit, Mandrell's love for music always shined through, leading her to charter a very prolific career. Mandrell wasn't just a country star — she was a crossover entertainment powerhouse. From 1980 to 1982, Mandrell co-hosted the variety show Barbara Mandrell & the Mandrell Sisters on NBC, which scored her a 1982 Golden Globe nomination.
Beyond music, Mandrell also flexed an acting career, appearing in several dynamite television series throughout the '90s, like The Rockford Files, Touched by an Angel, Baywatch, and Sunset Bunch.
By her retirement in 1997, Mandrell had released 25 studio albums, a testament to her prodigious skill.
Barbara Mandrell is a Grammy-winning Country Hall of Fame member
Mandrell has stepped away from performing but her legacy will never fade. The country songstress was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2009 and has earned several awards for her groundbreaking contributions to the genre. Some of her honors include but are not limited to six Academy of Country Music awards — including their prestigious Pioneer Award — and four Country Music Association wins. Mandrell was the recipient of 11 Grammy award nominations throughout her music career, winning Best Inspirational Performance in 1982 for her hit "He Set My Life To Music" and Best Soul Gospel Performance By A Duo Or Group in 1983 for "I'm So Glad I'm Standing Here Today."
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How to watch the Opry 100: A Live Celebration
Mandrell will make a special appearance at NBC's Opry 100: A Live Celebration on Wednesday, March 19. During the event, Kelsea Ballerini will perform a touching tribute in honor of Mandrell's legacy in country music.
You can watch the three-hour Opry 100 special on NBC on Wednesday, March 19, starting at 8 p.m. ET. The anniversary special, hosted by Blake Shelton, will also be simulcast on Peacock.
"Becoming a member of the Opry is a highlight of my life and career, and 15 years later, I still get that same feeling of reverence and excitement every time I walk out on that stage," Shelton said in a statement. "The Grand Ole Opry has been connecting the country music family for 100 years, and I'm so proud to be part of this historic celebration."
