Thelma Louise Mandrell (born July 13, 1954) is an American

country music Country (also called country and western) is a genre of popular music that originated in the Southern and Southwestern United States in the early 1920s. It primarily derives from blues, church music such as Southern gospel and spirituals, ...

singer Singing is the act of creating musical sounds with the voice. A person who sings is called a singer, artist or vocalist (in jazz and/or popular music). Singers perform music (arias, recitatives, songs, etc.) that can be sung with or withou ...

. She is the younger sister of fellow country singer

Barbara Mandrell Barbara Ann Mandrell (born December 25, 1948) is an 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 artis ...

, and older sister of actress

Irlene Mandrell Ellen Irlene Mandrell (born January 29, 1956) is an American musician. She is the younger sister of country singers Barbara and Louise Mandrell. Irlene Mandrell first rose to prominence as a model for CoverGirl, and later gained national attent ...

. Louise had a successful singing career in

from the 1970s, with a string of hits during the 1980s.

Early life

Thelma Louise Mandrell was born in 1954, to Mary Ellen (

née A birth name is the name of a person given upon birth. The term may be applied to the surname, the given name, or the entire name. Where births are required to be officially registered, the entire name entered onto a birth certificate or birth re ...

McGill; born 1931) and Irby Matthew Mandrell (October 11, 1924 – March 5, 2009) in

Corpus Christi, Texas Corpus Christi (; Ecclesiastical Latin: "''Body of Christ"'') is a coastal city in the South Texas region of the U.S. state of Texas and the county seat and largest city of Nueces County, it also extends into Aransas, Kleberg, and San Patricio ...

, United States. 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 World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...

naval veteran and

Texas Texas (, ; Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2020, it is the second-largest U.S. state by ...

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

, 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 A steel guitar ( haw, kīkākila) is any guitar played while moving a steel bar or similar hard object against plucked strings. The bar itself is called a "steel" and is the source of the name "steel guitar". The instrument differs from a conv ...

and other instruments, and toured with

Patsy Cline Patsy is a given name often used as a diminutive of the feminine given name Patricia or sometimes the masculine name Patrick, or occasionally other names containing the syllable "Pat" (such as Cleopatra, Patience, Patrice, or Patricia). Among I ...

in the early 1960s. Mandrell learned to play the guitar and bass. Soon, their parents founded the Mandrell Family Band, which toured the United States and Asia. Barbara's professional recognition in

in the early 1970s with hits like "Treat Him Right", "Show Me" and "The Midnight Oil" gave Louise opportunities at success. She started performing in Barbara's band The DoRites in 1969. Her first time in the studio was on the recording "Always Wanting You", a no. 1 hit for Haggard in 1975. In 1978, she signed with

Epic Records Epic Records is an American record label owned by Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, the North American division of Japanese conglomerate Sony. The label was founded predominantly as a jazz and classical m ...

Music career

Mandrell released her first single in 1978, called "Put It On Me", which appeared in the ''

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large adverti ...

'' country music singles chart. In 1979, she released her next single, a cover version of "

Everlasting Love "Everlasting Love" is a song written by Buzz Cason and Mac Gayden, originally a 1967 hit for Robert Knight and since remade numerous times, most successfully by Love Affair, as well as Town Criers, Carl Carlton, Sandra Cretu, and Gloria ...

", another minor country hit. 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 number 1 song by

Peaches & Herb Peaches & Herb is an American vocal duo. Herb Fame (born October 1, 1941) has remained a constant as "Herb" since the duo was created in 1966; seven different women have filled the role of "Peaches", most notably Francine Edna "Peaches" Hurd B ...

, " Reunited", which went to number 13, her first significant hit. 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''. This show showcased not only her singing, but her multi-instrumental and comedy talents as well. In 1981, she signed with

RCA Records RCA Records is an American record label currently owned by Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America. It is one of Sony Music's four flagship labels, alongside RCA's former long-time rival Columbia Records; also ...

. 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 Clodagh Rodgers (born 5 March 1947) is a retired singer and actress from Northern Ireland, best known for her hit singles including " Come Back and Shake Me", "Goodnight Midnight", and "Jack in the Box". Career Rodgers was born in Warrenpoin ...

) and "

Too Hot to Sleep ''Too Hot to Sleep'' is the seventh studio album from rock band Survivor, released in 1988. It was a relative commercial disappointment, reaching only #187 on the Billboard album charts, In 1984, Mandrell had two other Top 40 hits, "Goodbye Heartache" and " I'm Not Through Loving You Yet," and in 1985 the song " I Wanna Say Yes" entered the top 5. In 1985, RCA released her first video for the hit single " Some Girls Have All The Luck". 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, a cover of the song "As Long As We Got Each Other", a duet with

Eric Carmen Eric Howard Carmen (born August 11, 1949) is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, and keyboardist. He was first known as the lead vocalist of the Raspberries. He had numerous hit songs in the 1970s and 1980s, first as a member of the Rasp ...

. RCA dropped Mandrell in 1988. During the 1990s, she released the videos and songs "Jean Paul" and "Down Home Christmas". She 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. Miss 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 songs for 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," 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, TNN began re-airing ''Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters''. From 1992 to 1994, she headlined at the 4,000 seat Grand Palace Theatre in

Branson, Missouri Branson is a city in the U.S. state of Missouri. Most of the city is situated in Taney County, with a small portion in the west extending into Stone County. Branson is in the Ozark Mountains. The community was named after Reuben Branson, postm ...

along with

Kenny Rogers Kenneth Ray Rogers (August 21, 1938 – March 20, 2020) was an American singer, songwriter, and actor. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2013. Rogers was particularly popular with country audiences but also charted mo ...

. On occasion, she shared the stage with Barbara,

Sawyer Brown Sawyer Brown is an American country music band. It was founded in 1981 in Apopka, Florida, by Mark Miller (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Gregg "Hobie" Hubbard (keyboards, vocals), Bobby Randall (lead guitar, vocals), Joe "Curly" Smyth (drums), an ...

Roger Miller Roger Dean Miller Sr. (January 2, 1936 – October 25, 1992) was an American singer-songwriter, widely known for his honky-tonk-influenced novelty songs and his chart-topping country and pop hits " King of the Road", " Dang Me", and "Eng ...

Waylon Jennings Waylon Jennings (June 15, 1937 – February 13, 2002) was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. He pioneered the Outlaw Movement in country music. Jennings started playing guitar at the age of eight and performed at age f ...

, and several other well-known country and pop music entertainers at The Grand Palace. 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 Tennessee ( , ), officially the State of Tennessee, is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. Tennessee is the List of U.S. states and territories by area, 36th-largest by ...

, alongside other theaters such as Lee Greenwood's. Mandrell appeared in every performance there and encompassed numerous musical styles, including country,

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a m ...

, and

big band A big band or jazz orchestra is a type of musical ensemble of jazz music that usually consists of ten or more musicians with four sections: saxophones, trumpets, trombones, and a rhythm section. Big bands originated during the early 1910s ...

. It was considered the most attended (non-dinner) show in the Smoky Mountains. The Triumphant Quartet, formerly known as the ''Integrity Quartet'', was the in-house

Southern gospel Southern gospel music is a genre of Christian music. Its name comes from its origins in the southeastern United States. Its lyrics are written to express either personal or a communal faith regarding biblical teachings and Christian life, as ...

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." 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 Fresno () is a major city in the San Joaquin Valley of California, United States. It is the county seat of Fresno County and the largest city in the greater Central Valley region. It covers about and had a population of 542,107 in 2020, maki ...

through September 16, 2012. Mandrell reprised her role from July until September 15, 2019.

Later career

Mandrell continues to perform at selected special occasions and corporate events. In December 2007, she performed in Washington, D.C., with the National Army band. Over the Christmas and New Year 2008–2009, Mandrell performed at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville for one month. 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". In 2009, she signed with Strouadavarious Records and announced her intention to release an album of country classics and a Christmas-themed album. During 2011 and 2012, Mandrell joined Lee Greenwood on selected tour dates, including a six-week Branson run at the Welk Resort Theatre from September 12 – October 22. Mandrell's final Christmas show at Gaylord Opryland titled "Louise Mandrell's Christmas Dinner Party" took place November 18 – December 25, 2011. After 30 years, she released ''Playing Favorites'', her 11th studio album of country standards on October 4, 2019. 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 is scheduled to perform on the Grand Ole Opry live from the Ryman on November 30, 2019. 2022 Louise and Irlene join the special Opry show on 7/30/2022 for 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 10/13/2022.

Commercial spokesperson

Mandrell was the spokesperson for

Sanderson Farms Sanderson Farms is an American poultry producer which is based in Laurel, Mississippi. It is the third largest poultry producer in the United States and produces 13.65 million chickens per week. On July 22, 2022, it merged with Wayne Farms to fo ...

' Miss Goldy's Chicken for 20 years,

RC Cola RC Cola (short for Royal Crown Cola) is an American brand of cola invented by Claud A. Hatcher in 1905. Royal Crown Ginger Ale was the first product of the RC Cola line, and it referred to the original ingredient: ginger. More ingredients w ...

in the early 80's and White Rain in the mid-1980s. 2021-22 Louise, along with Jimmy Fortune, (of the Statler bros) filmed a series of infomercials for TIME LIFE. These can be seen randomly on different networks through out the country and online (Youtube).

Pop culture

In the 80's the Mandrell sisters were impersonated by the cast of ''Saturday Night Live'' on NBC. In 2007 Pam Tillis (country singer) released a song called "Band in the window" in the song she references Louise Mandrell. ("her name is Louise but not Mandrell, she has 80's hair and fringe") 2019 Canadian country artist Lisa Brokop released a video titled "who's gonna fill their heels" also references the Mandrell sisters.

Television appearances

* Louise Mandrell appeared in the following TV shows: **'' Super stars and their moms'' **''

The Mike Douglas Show ''The Mike Douglas Show'' was an American daytime television talk show that was hosted by Mike Douglas. It began as a local program in Cleveland before being carried on other stations owned by Westinghouse Broadcasting. The show went into natio ...

'' **''

The Today Show ''Today'' (also called ''The Today Show'' or informally, ''NBC News Today'') is an American news and talk morning television show that airs weekdays from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on NBC. The program debuted on January 14, 1952. It ...

'' **'' 700 club'' **'' CNN'' **'' Branson Country Christmas'' **'' Bright Lights and Country Nights'' **''

Pop! Goes the Country ''Pop! Goes the Country'' is a weekly half-hour syndicated variety country music television series that originally aired from September 7, 1974 through 1982 for a total of 234 episodes. Originally hosted by Ralph Emery, the series was recorded at ...

'' 1977-78-79* **''Battle of the Network Stars X'' 1981 **'' Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters'' 1980–1982 **''

Hollywood Squares ''Hollywood Squares'' (originally ''The Hollywood Squares'') is an American game show in which two contestants compete in a game of tic-tac-toe to win cash and prizes. The show Television pilot, piloted on NBC in 1965 and the regular series debut ...

'' **''

Austin City Limits ''Austin City Limits'' is an American live music television program recorded and produced by Austin PBS. The show helped Austin become widely known in the United States as the "Live Music Capital of the World", and is the only television show to ...

'' 1985 **''

Hee Haw ''Hee Haw'' is an American television variety show featuring country music and humor with the fictional rural "Kornfield Kounty" as the backdrop. It aired first-run on CBS from 1969 to 1971, in syndication from 1971 to 1993, and on TNN from 1 ...

'' 1980-82-87-89-90-91 + **''

The Tonight Show ''The Tonight Show'' is an American late-night talk show that has aired on NBC since 1954. The show has been hosted by six comedians: Steve Allen (1954–1957), Jack Paar (1957–1962), Johnny Carson (1962–1992), Jay Leno (1992–2009 and 201 ...

'' 1983–87 **''

Crook & Chase ''Crook & Chase'' is an American television talk show hosted by Lorianne Crook and Charlie Chase, focusing primarily, but not exclusively, on country music. The pair had first worked together on the weekly syndicated program "This Week In Coun ...

'' most recently 2009 + **''Children's Miracle Network'' **''Lifestyles of the rich and famous'' **'' Another World'' 1983 **'' Crazy Like a Fox'' 1986 **''Vicki Lawrence Show'' **''Miller and Company (Dan Miller)'' **''Prime Time Country'' + **''American Almanac with Willard Scott'' 1995 **''

Nashville Now ''Nashville Now'' was an American talk show that focused on country music performers in the style of '' The Tonight Show''. The show aired live on weeknights on TNN from 1983–1993. The host was Nashville TV/radio personality Ralph Emery. The ...

'' + **''Louise Mandrell: Diamonds, Gold and Platinum'' (TV special 1983) **''Barbara Mandrell Christmas'' 1986 **'' New Country'' 1987 **''Country Music Spot Light'' 1994 **''Music City News Awards'' guest and host **'' Mike Hammer'' 1987 **'' Nashville on the road'' **''

ACM Awards The Academy of Country Music Awards, also known as the ACM Awards, were first held in 1966, honoring the industry's accomplishments during the previous year. It was the first country music awards program held by a major organization. The academy ...

'' * **''

CMA Awards The Country Music Association Awards, also known as the CMA Awards or CMAs, are presented to country music artists and broadcasters to recognize outstanding achievement in the country music industry. The televised annual presentation ceremony ...

'' * **''Lee Ann Womack Christmas Special'' 2003 **'' The New Hollywood Squares'' 1987 **''

This Is Your Life This Is Your Life may refer to: Television * ''This Is Your Life'' (American franchise), an American radio and television documentary biography series hosted by Ralph Edwards * ''This Is Your Life'' (Australian TV series), the Australian versio ...

'' 1987 **''Superstars and Their Moms'' **''American Revolutions: Country Comedy'' 2005 **''

Intimate Portrait ''Intimate Portrait'' is a biographical documentary television series on the Lifetime cable network hosted by Meredith Vieira Meredith Louise Vieira (born December 30, 1953) is an American broadcast journalist and television personality. S ...

'' 1999 **''

Family Feud ''Family Feud'' is an American television game show created by Mark Goodson. It features two families who compete to name the most popular answers to survey questions in order to win cash and prizes. The show has had three separate runs, th ...

'' **''

Grand Ole Opry The ''Grand Ole Opry'' is a weekly American country music stage concert in Nashville, Tennessee, founded on November 28, 1925, by George D. Hay as a one-hour radio "barn dance" on WSM. Currently owned and operated by Opry Entertainment (a div ...

'' * **''

The Tommy Hunter Show Thomas James Hunter, CM, O.Ont (born March 20, 1937) is a Canadian country music performer, known as "Canada's Country Gentleman". Career In 1956, he began performing as a rhythm guitarist on the CBC Television show, '' Country Hoedown''. ' ...

'' Canada **''

The Geraldo Rivera Show ''Geraldo'' is an American daytime television tabloid talk show hosted by Geraldo Rivera that aired in syndication from September 7, 1987, to June 12, 1998. The last two seasons aired under the title ''The Geraldo Rivera Show''. The series was ...

'' **''

The Oprah Winfrey Show ''The Oprah Winfrey Show'', often referred to as ''The Oprah Show'' or simply ''Oprah'', is an American daytime broadcast syndication, syndicated talk show that aired nationally for 25 seasons from September 8, 1986, to May 25, 2011, in Chicag ...

'' * **''Merry Christmas From the Grand Ole Opry'' **''Branson Country Christmas'' **''Jerry Reed and Friends'' 1983 **''Louise Mandrell & Friends Salute the Boy Scouts'' **''Hee Haw 20th Anniversary Show'' **''Funny Business With Charlie Chase'' (11/06/91) **''Christmas in Hollywood'' **''CBS' Happy New Year America'' 1984 & 1985 **''Solid Gold'' 1985 **''Barbara Mandrell: Country's Do-Right Woman'' (TV special) **''National Easter Seal Telethon'' 1990 **''Ralph Emery'' 2009 **''Mike Huckabee show'' 2019 **''Mr Nashville (Larry Ferguson) Web'' 2020 **''Jerry Lewis telethon'' *+ was a guest many times

Discography

Studio albums

Albums with R. C. Bannon

Compilations

Singles

Singles with R. C. Bannon

Music videos

References

Bibliography

* Bufwack, Mary A. (1998). "Louise Mandrell". In ''The Encyclopedia of Country Music''. Paul Kingsbury, Editor. New York:

Oxford University Press Oxford University Press (OUP) is the university press of the University of Oxford. It is the largest university press in the world, and its printing history dates back to the 1480s. Having been officially granted the legal right to print books ...

. p. 324.

External links

Louise Mandrell's official website
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Mandrell, Louise 1954 births Living people American country singer-songwriters American women country singers People from Corpus Christi, Texas RCA Records Nashville artists Singer-songwriters from Texas Country musicians from Texas 21st-century American women