Loyalty and Longevity Result in Opry Invite for Mandy Barnett
Mandy Barnett never had any monster radio hits or mammoth records. She never took home any statuettes on awards show night. That’s just never been the direction or the purpose behind her career. But over the last quarter century, the time she has logged in service to country music—and specifically the Grand Ole Opry as both a solo performer and collaborator—has been extensive, and it finally paid off Tuesday night, September 28th.
Celebrating her 46th birthday by performing on the Tuesday night Opry, she was surprised on stage by Connie Smith, who sauntered up to lead the crowd in singing “Happy Birthday” to Barnett before presenting her with a birthday card. Inside was an invitation for Mandy to become the Grand Ole Opry’s next member.
“You’ve felt like family since we first met, and on this, your special day, we’re honored to invite you to become an official member of the Grand Ole Opry,” Connie Smith read.
It is the latest long-time Opry performer whose dues and service time have resulted in a formal induction. In fact, Mandy Barnett has performed at the Grand Ole Opry over 500 times since making her debut in 1994. Yes, 500. She is one of numerous performers that has shown nothing but loyalty and dedication to the Opry that in the era of executive producer Dan Rogers are finally being recognized for their tenure.
“Night after night, year after year, we’ve been astounded by Mandy’s magnificent performances,” says Dan Rogers. “She loves the Opry and the Opry loves her right back. It’s a great match now and will be for years to come.”
Along with half a thousand Opry appearances, Mandy Barnett also appeared some 500 times over a 20-year span as part of the theater production Always… Patsy Cline, which opened at the Ryman Auditorium in 1994 as well. If you want to know Mandy Barnett just received one of the most elite invitations in country music, this is why—longevity and loyalty.
Mandy Barnett has also been a go-to collaborator and background vocalist on a host of projects over her career. She is well-loved and appreciated throughout the industry and performer class. In May she released her latest album Every Star Above, which is a tribute to Billie Holiday’s Lady in Satin.
Terry
October 1, 2021 @ 8:55 am
I had never heard of her but with a resume like that, she richly deserves the honor!
Kudos to her for keeping the true spirit of the Opry alive.
Ken
October 1, 2021 @ 9:20 am
Good choice. At least guarantees that some real country music will continue at the Opry.
#BobWillsIsStillTheKing
October 1, 2021 @ 9:41 am
This lady has the best voice. I list her together with the likes of Patsy Cline, Billie Holiday, Connie Smith, Ella Fitzgerald, Dolly Parton, Sarah Vaughan, Tammy Wynette, Dinah Washington, Emmylou Harris, Nina Simone, Loretta Lynn and Mahalia Jackson.
Kevin Smith
October 1, 2021 @ 10:35 am
Wholeheartedly agree. Barnett is one of the truly elite and exceptional vocalists of our time. I realize that few SCM regulars are gonna know squat about her as shes never had even a minor radio hit. Shame really. Ive been listening to her since 2000. Seen her live on the Opry and at 3rd and Lindsley with her all star band. ( all Opry and studio pickers) Personally, ive never seen a greater vocalist live in any genre of music…period.
And to boot, she is as Country as it gets. This gal doesnt need Country radio for anything, her name stands on its own merits. Check out her first two albums, the 2nd one produced by Owen Bradley. Killer music. But most importantly, catch her live if you can. Her version of Someone to Watch Over me will MELT you down.
#BobWillsIsStillTheKing
October 1, 2021 @ 1:00 pm
Dear Mr. Smith
I have her first two albums, infact I have them all. I have never seen her live though but I would love to but not many artists tours where I live. We don’t even have Country radio where I live so…
PJ
October 4, 2021 @ 2:43 pm
Yes! She can sing…all types of music really. But she’s a fantastic country singer. And she won’t be one of those artists who is invited to join the Opry and then hardly ever performs there again!
The Ghost Of OlaR...
October 1, 2021 @ 11:01 am
Her chart career was short: 3 singles…all in the mid ’90s & a couple of albums.
Her debut Mandy Barnett (1996) peaked on #60 & the highest album position was for the I Can’t Stop Loving You: The Songs Of Don Gibson project in 2013 (#32).
The 2020 album A Nashville Songbook made it to #37.
A criminal underrated artíst with a fine voice.
CountryKnight
October 1, 2021 @ 11:43 am
Never heard of her but she beats 90% of current Nashville. And maybe the not enough women club can be happy for five seconds.
Loretta Twitty
October 1, 2021 @ 12:21 pm
I fell in love with her voice on “Planet Of Love.” Well, deserved.
robbushblog
October 1, 2021 @ 12:22 pm
Yes! So great!
robbushblog
October 1, 2021 @ 12:21 pm
I fell in love with her voice 25 years ago. I read about her soon to be released album and then went and bought it as soon as it was released at Camelot Music. Been a huge fan ever since. 27 years and over 500 performances…seems like that invitation should have been extended before now.
Jamie
October 1, 2021 @ 12:50 pm
I actually remember one of our stations playing “Now That’s Alright With Me” quite a bit around early 1996 (when we still had a lot of snow on the ground from the Blizzard of ’96) and really liking that song back then. I became even more of a fan of Mandy when I did some research on her the following decade and picked up a copy of her self titled debut on Asylum. With a voice like hers, it’s a damn shame she isn’t more well known. Definitely one of the biggest “should’ve been a star” cases from the past several years! I absolutely love her 50’s and 60’s throwback style. I even love the Christmas album she released in Cracker Barrel stores a while back.
So happy to see her receiving this long overdue invitation! A great choice.
Happy Dan
October 1, 2021 @ 1:32 pm
She is awesome, I can’t wait to see her in person some day.
Rick
October 1, 2021 @ 3:57 pm
I consider Mandy’s self-titled debut album is one of the best first efforts I’ve ever encountered from a female country artist and it was criminal the way country radio ignored her. If those singles had instead hit radio during the peak of the new traditionalist movement in the late 1980’s, and had been put in regular rotation, Mandy would have become a household name and a big country star, but she was still a young teeny bopper during that time frame. The 90’s were sadly the era of Garth Brooks and Shania Twain where mainstream country took a hard turn towards pop-rock crap.
Mandy’s second album “I’ve Got a Right to Cry” was being produced by the legendary producer Owen Bradley but he passed away before completion so his legendary musician brother Harold Bradley took over to finish the album which shows how much they respected Mandy’s vocal skills.
Th 1995 release “The Original Nashville Cast Recording of Always Patsy Cline” features Mandy in the lead and for being so young at the time the caliber of her performance was brilliant. I think any one of these albums would turn a traditional country fan into an instant Mandy Barnett true believer in short order.
My congratulations to Mandy for receiving an honor she has earned and richly deserved.
Wayne
October 1, 2021 @ 5:39 pm
Listened to her for years. Well deserved.
robbushblog
October 2, 2021 @ 5:54 pm
In reference to the picture at the top, I do believe she has “a right to cry”.
tag65
October 4, 2021 @ 10:13 am
She visited our station on her first radio tour, wearing a faux leopard jacket and bright red lipstick. Held her gum in her hand while she sang. As soon as she started singing, in a Patsy-esque big voice, my co-worker turned and looked at me like, “Holy cow!” Our receptionist came to investigate, after hearing her singing from way up in our lobby. My friend and I were asking Mandy endless questions, and after she left, my friend said, “I’m ready to quit my job, to sell her t-shirts!” 😀 Impressive then, and impressive now. A rare vocalist. This is a great move by the Opry! Connie Smith singing her “happy birthday” was thrill enough, I’m sure. But Connie Smith, getting choked up by her Opry invitation? For a “girl singer”, it doesn’t get any better.