Barbara Mandrell
She was Country when Country wasn't cool!
Born on Christmas Day in 1948, Barbara learned to read music before she could read words. At age 5 she made her stage debut at church and played Gospel Boogie on the accordion. When she was 11, legendary country guitarist Joe Maphis booked "The Princess of the Steel Guitar" on one of his Las Vegas Shows. Within weeks, she also began appearing on Los Angeles' renowned Town Hall Party, an experience that instilled a lifelong love for television and that paved the way for Barbara Mandrell & the Mandrell Sisters. Barbara at her peak had a star power matched by few. She had more than 50 Top 40 Country hits, spanning 20 years. She was named the Country Music Association's Entertainer of the Year in 1980 and 1981 - the first person and the only woman to win the award twice.