Family and faith helped restore Louise Mandrell’s shine

Beloved for her beautiful voice and radiant smile, Louise Mandrell shot to countrymusic stardom as part of the hit trio the Mandrell Sisters. But at the height of her success, the wife and mother was suddenly hit by a dark season of hardship and heartache. Here, how family, faith and believing in herself restored her shine

There was a time in the 1980s where you couldn’t tune into to a radio station without hearing the rich crooning of country superstars Louise Mandrell and her sisters, Barbara and Irlene. “Working with my sisters gave my career a big jump,” says Louise, who, after starring on the variety show, Barbara Mandrell and the

Mandrell Sisters, released a slew of solo hits that catapulted her to fame. But after moving her family to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, to open a theater, life took a scary and heartbreaking turn.

“I was devastated when my daughter, Nicole, became addicted to drugs in her early 20s,” Louise tells Woman’s

World. “She overdosed and fell into a coma, and doctors warned me that my only child might not pull through.” Thankfully, Nicole survived, and Louise did everything she could to help her—and today, the 35-year-old is 12 years sober and thriving.

But a couple of years after Nicole’s overdose, another crushing blow fell on the family. Louise’s husband, John, was diagnosed with Morgellons disease, a rare and painful condition. To give John the best care and to be closer to Nicole, they sadly sold the theater and moved back to Nashville. “Life can change in an instant with illness,” Louise says. “But there is joy and pride in being a caregiver, in helping a loved one.”

Another surprise blessing: Louise’s sweet 6-year-old granddaughter, Larkin. “She knows I sing, so she asked when I was going to do a concert,” Louise says. “It hit me: I had get back on stage!” Today, the 65-yearold has done just that, starring in a play and releasing a new album. Here, her tips for living joyfully and starting anew.