“Always…Patsy Cline” Actress Invited To Be Newest Member Of Grand Ole Opry

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The Grand Ole Opry family is growing once again as a legendary country artists was invited to join the coveted fellowship during Tuesday night’s (September 28) live show….which happened to be her birthday.

Mandy Barnett, who is perhaps best known for playing the role of “Crazy” singer Patsy Cline, was invited to join the Grand Ole Opry in a surprise request delivered by Connie Smith. Smith disguised the invitation by pretending to read Barnett a birthday card from the Opry.

“Wishing the happiest of birthdays from all of us here at the Opry to one of our favorite voices to have ever taken the stage. You made your Opry debut nearly three decades ago and have played the show magnificently more than 500 times,” Smith read before choking up. “You’ve felt like family since we first met, and on this your special day, we’re honored to invite you to become an official member of the Grand Ole Opry.”

Mandy has starred as Cline in  Always…Patsy Cline, a musical production that has been held at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville on and off since 1994. The 45-year-old singer debuted on the Grand Ole Opry stage in 1994 and has since performed on the hallowed stage more than 500 times.

In addition to delivering a critically acclaimed performance as Patsy Cline, Barnett has also release nine solo albums, lent her voice to movie soundtracks and sang background vocals for some of Music City’s biggest artists, such as Kenny Chesney’s song “Me and You.”

According to the Opry website, Mandy Barnett has “one of the most beautiful ‘classic country’ female voices of all time. She has total control of her voice and sings effortlessly. Barnett is a true master of her craft.”

Watch Mandy Barnett’s Grand Ole Opry debut as Patsy Cline in the video below.