BARBARA MANDRELL | 73

The country music scene won’t be as interesting as it is today without Barbara Mandrell. Mandrell inherited her musical talents from her parents. When she was young, she learned to read music, play accordion, banjo, and saxophone. Her adeptness in music secured her a career in Hollywood since the late 1960s. In her entire career, she has bagged more than 40 music awards. She took home two Grammy Awards, four Country Music Association Awards, four Academy of Country Music Awards and, seven American Music Awards.

Mandrell is also the first performer to bring home the Country Music Association Award for Entertainer of the Year twice, one in 1980 and another the following year. Her last concert was in 1997 and in that same year, she retired from performing music. The retired singer had investments in turning her former mansion into a tourist attraction with an indoor shooting range and a restaurant.