Barbara Mandrell – 70

Country singer Barbara Mandrell was a huge star during the 70s and 80s. These days she’s not really active as a country singer and is enjoying her family, hobbies, and pets. Barbara’s TV show became one of the most watched music shows in the U.S. She’s one of the biggest icons of country music. She’s the first female country singer ever to be inducted into Nashville’s Country Hall of Fame. She got this honor in 2009, and it made her feel appreciated for all she contributed to country music. She’s one of only two performers in history to win AMC’s “Entertainer of the Year” twice – she was first honored in 1979, and once more in 1981, (Taylor Swift also won the award twice thirty years later). The song that helped her rise to stardom was Sleeping Single In a Double Bed. It was released in 1978 and turned her into a country music star. The song was included in her album Moods. But Barbara’s most famous song was I Was Country When Country Wasn’t Cool, it came out in 1981 as a part of her album Barbara Mandrell Live and ranked first on the Hot Country Singles chart. Barbara is married to Ken Dudney, who used to be a drummer in her dad’s band. When the two fell in love she was only fourteen, and he was twenty-one. They married in 1967 after Ken returned from the Vietnam War. Barbara and Dolly Parton were simultaneously the most influential country music singers in the 70s, and they were also friends. Dolly said about Barbara that she has everything a girl could possibly want.

Susan Dey – 71