Barbara Mandrell (update 2008) Posted January 7, 2008 BIRTH DATE: December 25, 1948, Houston, Texas CLAIM TO FAME: She is best-known for her Country Music success. She had a successful career that made her one of the top female country artists of all time. FAMILY LIFE: Ken Dudney (28 May 1967 - present) 3 children Matthew (b. 1970), Jaime Dudney (b. 1976) and Nathaniel (b. 1985) Sister of Louise Mandrell and Irlene Mandrell INFO: Thanks to a string of hit singles Barbara landed a TV Variety show on NBC. It was with her sisters and further added to make her super-successful in the 80's. TRIVIA: While growing up, she was taught the steel guitar and many other instruments, including the accordion, saxophone and banjo. She even played steel guitar for the legendary Patsy Cline. Cline once wrote to a friend in a letter that Mandrell was "a 13 year old blonde doll that plays the steel guitar out of this world! What a show woman!" Was involved in major automobile accident with two of her children in 1984. It wasn't until her autobiography, Get to the Heart: My Story, was published in 1990 that fans found out how critical Barbara's condition was after her September 11, 1984, automobile accident. Barbara suffered a severe head injury (she was n intensive care for several days), a broken right leg, a broken right ankle, damaged right knee and various cuts and bruises. It took her 18 months to fully recover. Barbara was the first artist to win the CMA Entertainer Of The Year for two consecutive years.         Her 1990 autobiography Get To The Heart: My Story appeared on the New York Times Best Seller List after only four days, and then remained there for six months. WHERE IS SHE NOW: In 1998 Barbara retired from singing/performing to concentrate on an acting career.         In 2002 Barbara had an estate sale, auctioning her beloved 137-acre home (Fontanel), located near Downtown Nashville, for $2.1 million and selling a lot of her personal belongings. She, husband, Ken Dudney, and their third child, Nathaniel, moved from the 27,000- square-foot estate to a 7,000-square-foot one located outside Nashville, Tennessee. Was presented with a star on the Music City Walk of Fame on November 5, 2007.         She appeared on GAC's tribute to Porter Wagoner on Wednesday, January 2nd. DISCOGRAPHY: 1971 Treat Him Right 1972 A Perfect Match (with David Houston) 1973 The Midnight Oil 1974 This Time I Almost Made It 1976 This Is Barbara Mandrell 1976 Midnight Angel 1977 Lovers, Friends, and Strangers 1977 Love's Ups and Downs 1978 Moods 1979 The Best of Barbara Mandrell 1979 Just For the Record 1980 Love Is Fair 1981 Barbara Mandrell Live 1982 In Black and White 1982 He Set My Life to Music 1983 Spun Gold 1984 Clean Cut 1984 Meant For Each Other (with Lee Greenwood) 1984 Christmas At Our House 1985 Greatest Hits 1985 Get to The Heart 1986 Moments 1987 Sure Feels Good 1988 I'll Be Your Jukebox Tonight 1990 Morning Sun 1990 No Nonsense 1991 Keys In the Mailbox 1992 The Best of Barbara Mandrell 1995 The Collection 1995 Fooled By a Feeling 1996 22 Legendary Hits 1997 It Works For Me (final studio album) 1997 Super Hits 2001 The Ultimate Collection 2004 The Hits (3-disc Box Set) 2006 She Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool: A Tribute To Barbara Mandrell WRITE TO BARBARA: Barbara Mandrell c/o Staff Member Creative Artists Agency LCC (CAA-LA) 2000 Ave Of The Stars Los Angeles, CA 90067 SEND AN EMAIL: http://www.barbara-mandrell.com/contact.html OFFICIAL WEBSITE: http://www.barbara-mandrell.com Courtesy: www.celebritynooz.com Back to the "Take Note" Main Page