Irlene Mandrell
Ellen Irlene Mandrell (born January 29, 1956) is an American musician, actress and model. She is the younger sister of country singers Barbara Mandrell and Louise Mandrell.
Irlene Mandrell was born in Corpus Christi, Texas. She first rose to prominence as a model for Cover Girl, and later appeared from 1980–1982 with her siblings on the highly rated Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters TV variety show. After that show left the air, she appeared on Hee Haw for a number of years. She also appeared on two episodes of The Love Boat, and worked as a commercial spokesperson for a wide range of products. She has competed in auto racing.
Since the late 1990s, Mandrell has hosted the annual Irlene Mandrell Celebrity Shoot to raise money for Wish Upon a Star, Inc. and the Boy Scouts of America. The event, previously held in Branson, Missouri, was held in Jennings, Louisiana in 2008.
Early life
Mandrell was born in Corpus Christi, Texas. Her early life started off much like her sisters'. Her family was always musical; her parents came from a musical background. She played the Drums as one of the first members of Barbara's band The Do Rights.
Irlene Mandrell is the youngest of the famous Mandrell Sisters. Though music has always been the Mandrell Sisters' mainstay, other entertainment forms appealed to Irlene Mandrell. She has enjoyed an extraordinarily varied career as an actress, model, and performer. She is probably most famous for her role on the hit NBC show Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters. Irlene captured two awards for Comedy Act of the Year from Music City News and later sought opportunities in film, television, and video. Her many fans followed her talents as she joined the cast of Hee Haw where she had an eight-year starring run (until the close of the show.) Irlene has also made appearances on other television shows including The Love Boat, Oprah, The Tonight Show, The Mike Douglas Show, and many game shows. She co-hosted Bright Lights & Country Nights and This Week in Country Music, televised benefits with names such as George Lindsey, Bob Hope, Sammy Davis Jr., and many more. Irlene has been a model for several companies including Cover Girl shoes, Lanne Skin Care products, and 9West shoes.
Television
Irlene and her sisters Louise & Barbara co-starred in the top rated Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters television variety show on NBC from 1980–1982. The show had 40 million viewers weekly and was the last successful prime-time TV variety show. Irlene was a member of the Hee Haw cast from 1983–1991. She also appeared as a celebrity panelist on Password Plus in 1981 and Match Game in 1982.
Outdoors woman
Irlene Mandrell is an accomplished hunter. She has hunted North America extensively(in the US and Mexico) and has taken hunting trips to South America and Africa. She has killed several animals that qualify for the SCI Record Book. Mandrell is proficient with handgun, shotgun, rifle, and crossbow. She is very competitive in many sporting events, including as a racecar driver. She is an active member of several outdoor groups including Quail Unlimited, Buckmasters, NRA, and Safari Club International. She is a life member of National Wild Turkey Federation and has served several years at the Sportsman Against Hunger banquet.
For over 10 years Irlene has been affiliated with the National Whitetail Deer Education Foundation, which is headquartered at Deerassic Park in Cambridge, Ohio.
Irlene Mandrell participates in several charities, such as Pegasus, Special Olympics, American Heart Association, and Easter Seals, but is closest to Wish Upon A Star and the Boy Scouts. The Irlene Mandrell Celebrity Shoot raises a large amount of money for both Wish Upon A Star and the Boy Scouts. As a 501c3 charity event, the Shoot has contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars to these two causes.
Today
As of 2012 Irlene Mandrell is a celebrity spokesperson for several companies. She speaks for CZ-USA, She Safari, Horton Crossbows, DRT Ammo, Wild Ride Beef Jerky and Deerassic. Mandrell has appeared on several outdoor shows, and is featured in "Irlene Mandrell Straight Shooter," a segment on PBS's Tennessee's Wildside.
Personal life
Mandrell was married to Ric Boyer, whom she divorced in 1992. She and Boyer have two children. She married Rob Pincus in 1994, with whom she has one child. They were divorced in 2004.