Interview: A Few Minutes With Mandy Barnett

Mandy Barnett will perform on Friday, May 6 at 7:30 p.m. at the Dogwood Center.  
Spend an enchanting night of timeless music with one of today’s premier vocalists with her “Nashville Songbook” show that appeals to music fans of all types—who will undoubtedly want to sing along to some of the best-loved tunes of all time!  

Barnett has built a reputation for her commanding voice and unwavering devotion to classic country and popular standards. Barnett has enchanted listeners around the globe with her world-class vocals and musical chameleon qualities. 

We caught up with Ms. Barnett to pose a few questions 

N3-When did you begin performing?
I started singing when I was about five and began performing not long after that. I grew up around music, mostly on my mother’s side.  My Mom, grandmother, grandfather, aunts, and uncles…many of them sang and played instruments, especially in church.  And I’d join in.  Later on, my mother would take me to local country fairs and venues to sing.  I was known as the little girl with the big voice!  
 
N3-What was on your playlist as a 14 year old?
Oh, gosh, my playlist was all over the place--country, rock, gospel, pop standards... And I had already started recording country music at that age, so some of the emerging country artists at that time were on my radar.
 
N3-Who have been your mentors and influences along the way?
I've had such diverse influences.  As a child, I spent a lot of time with adults, like my relatives, who had eclectic tastes in music. They listened to classic country, traditional pop, gospel, and R&B; and I listened along with them.  Probably, though, my biggest influences were female stylists like Tammy Wynette, Patsy Cline, Connie Francis, Brenda Lee, Ella Fitzgerald, Dinah Washington, and Sarah Vaughan.  The way they sang--their phrasings and emotions--resonated with me.  And Linda Ronstadt has always been someone I’ve admired.  Like her, I enjoy musical variety and exploration.
 My list of mentors is also pretty eclectic.  Owen Bradley--producer of Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, Brenda Lee, and producer of my I've Got A Right To Cry album--and his brother Harold Bradley, who was an amazing guitarist, certainly come to mind.  Both Country Music Hall of Fame members.  The wonderful Seymour Stein, the founder of Sire Records, was another mentor.  And when I started recording and touring, certainly many of the other female artists I met always shared good advice.
 
N3-You’ve performed at the Opry many times and last year received the honor of becoming a member. Can you tell us what it was like the first time you were on that iconic stage?
Even as a young child, the Opry seemed so magical.  I had been backstage a bit when other, older artists invited me.  And my first real performance on the Opry was during the initial run of the musical Always...Patsy Cline at the Ryman Auditorium, when I portrayed Patsy.  I was a teenager and was nervous, but also felt at home.  Performing on the Opry is a huge honor that I’ve never taken for granted. Every time I walk onto the Opry stage, I feel so privileged to be there. Even after more than 500 performances, it never gets old. Becoming a Grand Ole Opry member was a lifelong dream come true!
 
N3-You’re hosting a dinner party for any five people (living or dead) from the music industry.
Who’s occupying the chairs?  
I don't think I could limit it to just five guests!  All of these names are swirling around in my head as possibilities!  But I do have to say that Patsy Cline would be there.  I'd like to think that she and I would have a grand time together.  I'd thank her for allowing me to honor her music so much.
 
N3-What should people expect when they come to your concert?
I'll be performing my "Nashville Songbook" show, which features songs and artists that made Nashville famous.  We'll be doing plenty of country songs, honoring the great classic country songwriters and artists, but also some of the amazing, enduring pop classics that were written or recorded in Nashville.  So, the set list generally includes songs by the likes of Patsy Cline, Tammy Wynette, and Brenda Lee, etc., but also Roy Orbison, The Everly Brothers, and other non-country icons.  
 
N3-Your role as Patsy Cline at the Ryman production of “Always…Patsy Cline'' was lauded by critics and fans alike. Will we be hearing any Patsy music at the Dogwood this Friday? 
Yes, we'll be doing some Patsy music for sure.  "Crazy" and more!
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Tickets are $35.00 with reserved seating for this 7:30 p.m. main stage performance.  Tickets are available through the Dogwood Center Box Office, NCCA-Artsplace in downtown Fremont, or just click here.  For information, phone 231.924.8885.  The Dogwood Center is located one mile east of downtown Fremont.