Grand Ole Opry Unveils Exclusive Barbara Mandrell Collection
The Grand Ole Opry is launching an exclusive new merchandise line with Barbara Mandrell in celebration of her signature hit “I Was Country When Country Wasn’t Cool.” The collection includes “I Was Country When Country Wasn’t Cool” branded t-shirts, a Hatch print posters, coffee mugs and more.
The three-time ACM/CMA Entertainer and four-time ACM/CMA Female Vocalist of the Year was inducted as a member of the Grand Ole Opry on July 29, 1972. A 9x People’s Choice Award winner, she released “I Was Country When Country Wasn’t Cool” in April 1981, hitting the No. 1 spot on July 4 of the same year.
Her final performance took place on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry House in 1997. In 2009, Barbara was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Steel Guitar Hall of Fame.
“The Opry has always felt like a second home to me. My love for that historic stage is why I chose it as the location for my final performance. I simply had to step in the circle one last time,” Mandrell shares. “I am blessed to have recorded this song, honored that country fans are still listening to it and thrilled to celebrate 40 years of ‘being country, when country wasn’t cool’ with the Grand Ole Opry.”
