Barbara Mandrell's last concert...

I actually watched this when it originally aired in 1997...

Somehow, I ended up watching Barbara Mandrell's last concert on YouTube last night.  I don't know why.  I liked her show with sisters Louise and Irlene when it aired in the early 80s.  I even appreciated the re-runs when they were on The Nashville Network ten years later.  I read Barbara's life story, Get To The Heart, which was all about how she came to be a major country star in the 70s and 80s.  But I wasn't really a big fan of her music, even as I admire her ability to sing, dance, and play multiple instruments while still looking so dainty and pretty.

Barbara Mandrell is obviously a born performer.  She was richly endowed with musical gifts.  When I think about how easy it is for her to make music, it boggles the mind.  I still never really got into her music.  Maybe I should explore it more, now that I'm older.  I will say this, too... that outfit she's wearing doesn't do much for her.  

Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters...

Back in the early 1980s, variety shows were still sort of popular.  Donny & Marie Osmond had been very successful with their show, Donny & Marie, which featured musical guests and lots of squeaky clean skits and sketches.  I never watched their show when it was on prime time.  What I did watch was Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters.   Every Saturday night at 8:00, right after Hee Haw,  I'd tune in for their country flavored variety show.  Afterwards, I'd watch The Love Boat and Fantasy Island.

Barbara Mandrell and her sisters wore snazzy-- okay tacky-- polyester outfits that were similar, but different.  They sang popular hits of the day and danced...

They had cornball musical numbers...

Toward the end of each episode, they'd show how musically talented they were by playing songs on many different instruments.  I hear Barbara can play about a dozen different instruments besides being a singer.

They even had Donny Osmond on their show.

And they performed with the Kroft Family Puppets or something like that.  They were basically redneck puppets.  At the end of each show, they sang a gospel number...

It was good clean fun.  We had no reality TV, so we had to settle for cheesy variety shows.