Topic: Louise Mandrell

Thelma Louise Mandrell (born July 13, 1954) is an American country music singer. She is the younger sister of country singer Barbara Mandrell, and older sister of actress Irlene Mandrell. Louise had a successful singing career in country music with a string of hits in the 1980s.

Mandrell was born in Corpus Christi, Texas. Although she never developed the iconic fan base of worldwide recognition that her older sister Barbara Mandrell gained in Country Music, Louise Mandrell is still credited as one of Country Music's most successful female vocalists of the 1980s. Her early life started off much like her sister's. Her family was always a musical family; her parents came from a musical background. Barbara started off working as a singer, and playing the steel guitar and other instruments — even working for Patsy Cline in the early 1960s. It would be no surprise Louise would pick up instruments as well. She played the guitar and bass. Soon, her parents founded their band called the Mandrell Family Band. The family band toured all over the United States and even Asia. The band jumpstarted Louise's professional career in music.

When her sister Barbara Mandrell got professional stardom in country music in the early 70s, with hits like "Treat Him Right", "Show Me" and "The Midnight Oil", it gave Louise oppurtunites to become successful. Mandrell started performing in her sister's band, The Do-Rights. She also toured with Merle Haggard in the early 70s. Her first time in the studio was on the recording "Always Wanting You," a #1 hit for Merle in 1975. In 1978, she signed with Epic Records.