Gene Watson’s Peers within the country music industry believe in the sheer talent of this unassuming man from east Texas, so much so that Gene is regarded by many of them as ‘the singer’s singer’ – and rightly so!
All of Gene Watson’s Peers, who were contacted by The Gene Watson Fan Site, during 2010, were most gracious with their time and words.
It is here, within this special part of The Gene Watson Fan Site, that you have an opportunity to read a quote from Mandy Barnett, which she submitted to this site on Sunday 17 January 2010.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to Mandy Barnett who made a special contribution to this unique part of this online ‘celebration of a Lone Star Hero’.
Mandy Barnett
This quote was submitted on Sunday 17 January 2010.
‘Gene’s interpretive skills are genius…he pours his heart into everything he sings and boy does it show!’
Thank you, Mandy Barnett, for your support of Gene Watson.
About Mandy Barnett…
Mandy Barnett, who was born Amanda Carol ‘Mandy’ Barnett on Sunday 28 September 1975 in Crossville, Tennessee started singing when she was five years old; she has been singing ever since.
In 1994, Mandy Barnett starred as country music legend Patsy Cline (Thursday 8 September 1932 – Tuesday 5 March 1963) in the stage show ‘Always…Patsy Cline’ at the celebrated Ryman Auditorium in Nashville.
The performances were sold out nightly and received rave reviews across the United States. Mandy Barnett, in role as Patsy Cline, appeared on the MCA Records cast recording, ‘Always…Patsy Cline’ (MCA Records, 1995).
In 1996, Mandy Barnett signed with Asylum Records and saw the release, on Tuesday 27 February 1996, of her self-titled debut album, ‘Mandy Barnett’ (Asylum Records, 1996), which was produced by legendary country music producer Kyle Lehning, and included three tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart:
‘Now That’s All Right With Me’ (No.43, 1996) / this track also reached No.64 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1996
‘Maybe’ (written by Rodney Crowell, Jim Lauderdale and John Leventhal) (No.65, 1996) / this track also reached No.93 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1996
‘A Simple I Love You’ (written by Karen Brooks and Randy Sharp) (No.72, 1996)
Mandy Barnett’s self-titled debut album, ‘Mandy Barnett’ (Asylum Records, 1996), also included the following tracks:
‘Planet of Love’ (written by Jim Lauderdale and John Leventhal)
‘Rainy Days’ (written by Pamela Brown Hayes)
‘Three Days’, which was written by Willie Nelson and Faron Young (Thursday 25 February 1932 – Tuesday 10 December 1996)
‘Baby, Don’t You Know’, which was written by Jamie O’Hara (Friday 18 August 1950 – Thursday 7 January 2021)
‘Now That’s All Right With Me’ (written by Kostas and Tony Perez)
‘I’ll Just Pretend’ (written by Richard Bennett and Kostas)
‘What’s Good For You’ (written by Kelly Willis)
‘Wayfaring Stranger’ (traditional)
Mandy Barnett’s self-titled debut album, ‘Mandy Barnett’ (Asylum Records, 1996), which reached No.60 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1996, received glowing reviews in major trade publications and magazines, including ‘Time’ Magazine, as well as praise from veteran country music artists and fans.
In 1997, Mandy Barnett performed Bobby Darin’s ‘Dream Lover’, along with ‘Searching (For Someone Like You)’ and ‘Dark Moon’ for the (various artists) soundtrack of ‘Traveller’ (Elektra Records / WEA International Records, 1997).
In 1999, Mandy Barnett performed ‘A Town Without Pity’, which was written by (composer) Dimitri Tiomkin (10 May 1894 – Sunday 11 November 1979) and (lyricist) Ned Washington (15 August 1901 – Monday 20 December 1976), for the (various artists) soundtrack of ‘A Walk On The Moon’ (WEA International Records, 1999) / the original version of this track was recorded by Gene Pitney (Monday 17 February 1941 – Wednesday 5 April 2006), whose version reached No.13 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop music singles chart in 1961, and No.10 on the Canadian RPM Tracks Chart in 1961; the track was subsequently included on ‘The Many Sides of Gene Pitney’ (Musicor Records, 1962).
In 1999, Mandy Barnett performed ‘If You’ll Be The Teacher’ for the (various artists) soundtrack of ‘Election’ (Sire Records / London Records / Rhino Records, 1999).
In 1999, Mandy Barnett performed ‘Beautiful Dreamer’ for the (various artists) soundtrack of ‘Drop Dead Gorgeous’ (Sire Records / London Records / Rhino Records, 1999).
It was also in 1999 when Mandy Barnett and The Jordanaires performed Hank Williams’ ‘You Win Again’, which was included on the (various artists) project ‘Good Rockin’ Tonight – The Legacy of Sun Records’ (Imports Records, 1999).
When Seymour Stein launched Sire Records within the Warner Music Group, Mandy Barnett was the first artist he signed to the record label.
Mandy Barnett’s Sire Records project paired her with the undisputed pioneer of the Nashville Sound, producer Owen Bradley (Thursday 21 October 1915 – Wednesday 7 January 1998).
The album which Mandy Barnett and Owen Bradley (Thursday 21 October 1915 – Wednesday 7 January 1998) made together, ‘I’ve Got A Right To Cry’ (Sire Records, 1999), would be Owen’s final contribution to the country music community who knew him through his work with country music legends Ernest Tubb (Monday 9 February 1914 – Thursday 6 September 1984), Brenda Lee, Loretta Lynn (Thursday 14 April 1932 – Tuesday 4 October 2022), Patsy Cline (Thursday 8 September 1932 – Tuesday 5 March 1963) and Kitty Wells (Saturday 30 August 1919 – Monday 16 July 2012).
Owen Bradley passed away four songs into the project, on Wednesday 7 January 1998, but not before leaving his unmistakable mark on the album.
Owen Bradley’s brother, and long-time production partner, Harold Bradley (Saturday 2 January 1926 – Thursday 31 January 2019), inherited the delicate task of completing the album with Mandy Barnett.
A legal pad filled with Owen Bradley’s handwritten notes for each song guided the two through the rest of the sessions and what was to be Owen Bradley’s farewell to the world was poised to propel Mandy Barnett and her remarkable vocal talent once again into the national limelight.
On Tuesday 13 April 1999, Mandy Barnett saw the release of ‘I’ve Got A Right To Cry’ (Sire Records, 1999), which included two tracks, which were released as singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart:
‘I’ve Got A Right To Cry’ (written by Joe Liggins) / this track was released as a single in 1999, but it did not chart
‘The Whispering Wind (Blows On By)’ (written by Russell Brown and Pat McLaughlin) /this track was released as a single in 1999, but it did not chart
Mandy Barnett’s ‘I’ve Got A Right To Cry’ (Sire Records, 1999) also included the following tracks:
‘Give Myself A Party’, which was written by Don Gibson (Tuesday 3 April 1928 – Monday 17 November 2003)
‘Who (Who Will It Be)’ (written by Russell Brown and Pat McLaughlin)
‘Trademark’, which was written by Porter Wagoner (Friday 12 August 1927 – Sunday 28 October 2007) and Gary Walker
‘Funny, Familiar, Forgotten Feelings’, which was written by Mickey Newbury (Sunday 19 May 1940 – Sunday 29 September 2002)
‘Falling, Falling, Falling’, which was written by Bud Deckelman and Joseph Denton ‘Jay’ Miller (Friday 5 May 1922 – Saturday 23 March 1996)
‘With My Eyes Wide Open, I’m Dreaming’ (written by Marc Gordon and Harry Revel)
‘I’m Gonna Change Everything’, which was written by Alex Zanetis (Monday 15 May 1922 – Tuesday 13 September 2005)
‘Mistakes’ (written by Edgar Leslie and Horatio Nicholls)
‘Evertrue Evermore’ (written by Kermit Goell)
‘Don’t Forget To Cry’, which was written by Boudleaux Bryant (Friday 13 February 1920 – Thursday 25 June 1987) and Felice Bryant (Friday 7 August 1925 – Tuesday 22 April 2003)
Mandy Barnett’s ‘I’ve Got A Right To Cry’ (Sire Records, 1999) was a huge critical success.
‘Rolling Stone’ magazine named Mandy Barnett’s ‘I’ve Got A Right To Cry’ (Sire Records, 1999) as the ‘Top Country Album’ of 1999. Other stellar reviews appeared in ‘People’, ‘Newsweek’, ‘Interview’ and multiple national newspapers.
As a result of her acclaim, Mandy Barnett made guest appearances on ‘The Late Show with David Letterman’ and ‘The Tonight Show with Jay Leno’.
Mandy Barnett’s ‘I’ve Got A Right To Cry’ (Sire Records, 1999) reached No.45 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1999.
In 2000, Mandy Barnett performed ‘I Only Have Eyes For You’ for the (various artists) soundtrack of ‘Space Cowboys’ (Warner Bros. Records, 2000); the movie was produced and directed by Clint Eastwood.
In 2001, Mandy Barnett performed ‘Slowly’, which was written by Webb Pierce (Monday 8 August 1921 – Sunday 24 February 1991) and Tommy Hill, and saw the track included on the (various artists) project, ‘Caught In The Webb’ (Audium Records / Koch Records, 2001), a tribute album, which was dedicated to Webb Pierce, and was produced by Gail Davies; the original version of ‘Slowly’ was recorded by Webb Pierce, who included the track on ‘The Wondering Boy’ (Decca Records, 1956); Webb Pierce’s version of the track was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for seventeen weeks in February / March / April / May / June 1954.
In 2006, Mandy Barnet sang on the SpongeBob SquarePants album, ‘The Best Day Ever’ (Nick Records, 2006), sharing the spotlight with the likes of Brian Wilson, Tommy Ramone, Flaco Jimenez and NRBQ.
During April 2009 and May 2009, Mandy Barnett reprised her role as Patsy Cline (Thursday 8 September 1932 – Tuesday 5 March 1963) in the acclaimed production ‘Always…Patsy Cline’ at Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, in honour of the fifteenth anniversary of the celebrated venue’s extensive renovations and re-opening.
In November 2010, Mandy Barnett saw the release of ‘Winter Wonderland’ (Rounder Records, 2010), which included the following tracks:
‘Winter Wonderland’ (written by Felix Bernard)
‘This Time of The Year’, which was written by Brook Benton (Saturday 19 September 1931 – Saturday 9 April 1988) and Cliff Owens
‘Marshmallow World’ (written by Peter DeRose and Carl Sigman)
‘Holly Jolly Christmas’ (written by Johnny Marks)
‘I’ll Be Home For Christmas’, which was written by Kim Gannon, Walter Kent and Buck Ram (Thursday 21 November 1907 – Tuesday 1 January 1991)
‘Here Comes Santa Claus’, which was written by Gene Autry (Sunday 29 September 1907 – Friday 2 October 1998) and Oakley Haldeman
‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’ (written by A.J. Franichevich and Troy Powers)
‘Home For The Holidays’ (written by Robert Allen and Al Stillman)
‘White Christmas’, which was written by Irving Berlin (11 May 1888 – Friday 22 September 1989)
‘Jingle Bell Rock’ (written by Joseph Carlton Beale and James Ross Boothe)
‘Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow’, which was written by Sammy Cahn (Wednesday 18 June 1913 – Friday 15 January 1993) and Jule Styne (Sunday 31 December 1905 – Tuesday 20 September 1994)
‘Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas’ (written by Ralph Blane and Hugh Martin)
In May 2011, Mandy Barnett saw the release of ‘Sweet Dreams’ (Opry Music Records, 2011), which included the following tracks:
‘Always’
‘Bill Bailey, Won’t You Please Come Home’
‘Crazy’ (written by Willie Nelson)
‘I Fall To Pieces’, which was written by Hank Cochran (Friday 2 August 1935 – Thursday 15 July 2010) and Harlan Howard (Thursday 8 September 1927 – Sunday 3 March 2002)
‘Faded Love’
‘Have You Ever Been Lonely (Have You Ever Been Blue)’
‘Life’s Railway To Heaven’
‘She’s Got You’, which was written by Hank Cochran (Friday 2 August 1935 – Thursday 15 July 2010)
‘So Wrong’
‘Strange’
‘Walking After Midnight’ (written by Alan Block and Donn Hecht)
‘Sweet Dreams’, which was written by Don Gibson (Tuesday 3 April 1928 – Monday 17 November 2003)
In November 2013, Mandy Barnett saw the release of ‘I Can’t Stop Loving You: Songs of Don Gibson’ (Cracker Barrel, 2013), a tribute album to Don Gibson (Tuesday 3 April 1928 – Monday 17 November 2003), which included the following tracks:
‘(Yes) I’m Hurtin’ / Don Gibson: No.6, 1966
‘Too Soon To Know’ / album track from Don Gibson’s ‘Oh, Lonesome Me’ (RCA Records, 1958)
‘Look Who’s Blue’ / Don Gibson: No.8, 1958
‘Sweet Dreams’ / Don Gibson: No.9, 1956
‘Just One Time’ / Don Gibson: No.2, 1960
‘Blue Blue Day’ / this track featured guest vocals from Alison Krauss / Don Gibson: No.1 for two weeks in July / August 1958
‘Oh, Lonesome Me’ / Don Gibson: No.1 for eight non-consecutive weeks in April and May 1958, and again in June 1958
‘Oh Such A Stranger’ / album track from Don Gibson’s ‘I Wrote a Song’ (RCA Records, 1964)
‘Far Far Away’ / Don Gibson: No.11, 1960
‘I Can’t Stop Loving You’ / Don Gibson: No.7, 1958
‘Lonesome No.1’ / Don Gibson: No.2, 1961
‘(I’d Be A) Legend In My Time’ / Don Gibson: this track was the ‘B’ side of ‘Far, Far Away’ from 1960
Mandy Barnett’s ‘I Can’t Stop Loving You’ (Cracker Barrel, 2013) reached No.32 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 2013.
On Tuesday 18 March 2014, Ronnie Milsap saw the release of ‘Summer Number Seventeen’ (Legacy Recordings, 2014), which featured Mandy Barnett performing two duets with Ronnie Milsap; ‘You Make Me Feel Brand New’ and ‘Make Up’.
Mandy Barnett continues to play shows, both nationally and internationally, and is a frequent guest on the hallowed stage of The Grand Ole Opry in Nashville.
On Friday 21 September 2018, Mandy Barnett saw the release of ‘Strange Conversation’ (Dame Productions, 2018), which included two tracks, which were released as singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart:
‘More Lovin’ (written by Gino Parks, William Stevenson and Andre Williams) / this track was released as a single in 2018, but it did not chart
‘It’s All Right (You’re Just In Love)’ (written by Ed Thomas Jr. and Cliff Thomas) / this track was released as a single in 2018, but it did not chart
Mandy Barnett’s ‘Strange Conversation’ (Dame Productions, 2018) also included the following tracks:
‘Dream Too Real To Hold’ (written by Greg Garing)
‘Strange Conversation’ (written by Ted Hawkins)
‘A Cowboy’s Work Is Never Done’ (written by Sonny Bono)
‘Puttin’ On The Dog’ (written by Kathleen Brennan and Thomas Alan Waits)
‘All Night’ (written by Leslie Phillips)
‘My World Keeps Slipping Away’ (written by Howard Greenfield and Neil Sedaka)
‘The Fool’ (written by Naomi Ford and Lee Hazlewood)
‘Put A Chain On It’ (written by Andre Williams)
On Friday 21 August 2020, Mandy Barnett saw the release of ‘A Nashville Songbook’ (Melody Place Music / BMG, 2020), which included the following tracks:
‘I Love A Rainy Night’, which was written by David Malloy, Eddie Rabbitt (Thursday 27 November 1941 – Thursday 7 May 1998) and Even Stevens
‘It’s Over’
‘Help Me Make It Through The Night’ (written by Kris Kristofferson)
‘A Fool Such As I’
‘Love Hurts’
‘It’s Now Or Never’
‘The Crying Game’
‘(Hey Won’t You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song’
‘The End of The World’
‘Near You’
‘You Needed Me’
‘Heartaches By The Number’
‘I Can’t Help It (If I’m Still In Love With You)’, which was written by Hank Williams (Monday 17 September 1923 – Thursday 1 January 1953)
On Friday 7 May 2021, Mandy Barnett saw the release of ‘Every Star Above’ (Melody Place Music / BMG, 2021), which was a celebration of one of the most influential albums in history, ‘Lady In Satin’ (Columbia Records, 1958), by one of the most iconic artists of all time, Billie Holiday (7 April 1915 – Friday 17 July 1959).
Recorded with a 60-piece orchestra, Mandy Barnett’s ‘Every Star Above’ (Melody Place, 2021) delivered lush and sparkling selections from Billie Holiday’s personally curated ‘Lady In Satin’ (Columbia Records, 1958) track list, as interpreted by Mandy Barnett and legendary jazz maestro and arranger Samuel Louis Nistico (better known as Sammy Nestico) (Wednesday 6 February 1924 – Sunday 17 January 2021), who worked with William James ‘Count’ Basie (21 August 1904 – Thursday 26 April 1984), Frank Sinatra (Sunday 12 December 1915 – Thursday 14 May 1998), Sarah Vaughan (Thursday 27 March 1924 – Tuesday 3 April 1990), Michael Bublé and Barbra Streisand.
Samuel Louis Nistico’s death on Sunday 17 January 2021 distinguishes Mandy Barnett’s ‘Every Star Above’ (Melody Place, 2021) as his final work.
‘Billie Holiday is among the artists I was introduced to as a young girl. And in my early twenties, ‘Lady In Satin’ (Columbia Records, 1958) deeply affected me; it inspired me to become a torch singer’, said Mandy Barnett. ‘Holiday was a fearless trailblazer whose unique vocals and phrasing on the album drip with the weight of her experiences, like she’s lived the lyrics and felt the joys, the hardships, the love, and the loss – all of the ups-and-downs of life that great songs and great singers convey. Holiday revealed her heart and soul every time she sang, and she inspired me to do exactly that throughout my career’
Melody Place President, Fred Mollin, stated ‘Having the opportunity to make this album is a dream come true. Mandy was the perfect singer to take this on. Sammy was the perfect arranger to make it beyond the dream’
Recorded in the fall of 2019, Mandy Barnett’s ‘Every Star Above’ (Melody Place, 2021) was produced by Fred Mollin, and included the following tracks:
‘But Beautiful’ (words written by Johnny Burke and music written by Jimmy Van Heusen)
‘Glad To Be Unhappy’ (written by Lorenz Hart and Richard Rodgers)
‘For Heaven’s Sake’ (written by Elise Bretton, Sherman Edwards and Donald Meyer)
‘I Get Along Without You Very Well’, which was written by Hoagland Howard ‘Hoagy’ Carmichael (22 November 1899 – Sunday 27 December 1981)
‘It’s Easy To Remember’ (written by Lorenz Hart and Richard Rodgers)
‘The End of A Love Affair’ (written by Edward Redding)
‘You Don’t Know What Love Is’ (written by Gene DePaul and Don Raye)
‘I’m A Fool To Want You’, which was written by Frank Sinatra (Sunday 12 December 1915 – Thursday 14 May 1998), Joel Herron and Jack Wolf
‘You’ve Changed’ (written by Bill Carey and Carl T. Fischer)
‘For All We Know’, which was written by John Frederick Coots (2 May 1897 – Monday 8 April 1985) and Sam M. Lewis
On Wednesday 29 September 2021, after over 500 appearances spanning 27 years, Mandy Barnett was honoured by Connie Smith with a surprise invitation to become an official member of The Grand Ole Opry.
• Visit Mandy Barnett’s official site at mandybarnett.com
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