She WAS Country When Country Wasn't Cool

Kenny Chesney and Reba McEntire were in the studio recently to pay tribute to one of country music's biggest stars, Barbara Mandrell. As part of the Barbara Mandrell tribute album, they recorded the album's title track, and Barbara's signature hit, "I Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool."

As a friend and influential force in her own career, it was McEntire who welcomed Mandrell to the stage at last year's ACM 40th Anniversary Celebration, where she was recognized as having accomplished the rare feat of winning the career progression of awards that, in Barbara's case, found her named Top New Female, Top Female and ultimately Entertainer Of The Year. Known as the Triple Crown Award, Chesney, following suit in the male categories, is also one of the six artists who have achieved that honor.

Among her many accolades, Barbara Mandrell was the first artist to win the CMA Entertainer Of The Year for two consecutive years and has won multiple awards from the CMA, ACM, American Music Awards, Grammys, People's Choice Awards and a Dove Award. Her variety show, Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sister, on NBC drew millions of viewers weekly, and she has starred in numerous television shows, including her farewell performance at Nashville's Opry House, a sell-out concert titled "Barbara Mandrell and The Do-Rites: The Last Dance."

She Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool: A Tribute Album to Barbara Mandrell will be released October 10 on BNA Records. Other artists on the album include Sara Evans, Brad Paisley, Dierks Bentley, Randy Owen, Lorrie Morgan, CeCe Winans, Willie Nelson and Shelby Lynne.

Press info contact: Angie Gore, (615) 321-3211