Barbara Mandrell Named A 2026 Kennedy Center Honoree – See The Entire Class
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Barbara Mandrell is the latest country music star to be named a Kennedy Center honoree. She’s following in the footsteps of 11 other artists, including last year’s country-singing honoree, George Strait.
The 2026 class of Kennedy Center honorees was revealed by the Kennedy Center on Monday, November 2. Other than Mandrell, the class includes the following celebrities:
- Singer and Songwriter Paul Anka
- Producer and Composer David Foster
- Actor and Director Andy Garcia
- Playwright and Author David Mamet
Country music fans know that Barbara Mandrell is more than deserving of this recognition. She is one of the genre’s most successful stars, known for hits such as “I Was Country When Country Wasn’t Cool,” “Sleeping Single in a Double Bed,” and “”(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don’t Want to Be Right.”
Mandrell was the first country artist to win the CMA’s Entertainer of the Year Award twice. She accomplished the feat in back-to-back years, 1980 and 1981.
She has been a member of the Grand Ole Opry since 1972 and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2009. Additionally, Mandrell has won two Grammys out of 11 nominations.
Mandrell retired from her recording and touring career in 1997. She’s only made a few public appearances since then, but we hope to see her at the Kennedy Center Honors ceremony.
When Is The Kennedy Center Honors Ceremony Recognizing Barbara Mandrell?
Barbara Mandrell released a statement of gratitude on social media after this year’s honorees were revealed. She wrote:
“Receiving the Kennedy Center Honors is one of the greatest honors of my life. First and foremost, I give thanks to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, whose grace has guided me throughout my life and career.”
She continued to thank her family, her colleagues, and all of her fans. She ended her statement by writing:
“Country music has been a gift to me, and I’m humbled that the songs and performances we shared continue to mean something to people.”
Mandrell and her fellow Kennedy Center Honorees will be celebrated during a special ceremony on December 7. The ceremony has been moved from the Kennedy Center Opera House to the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., which will host the event for the first time.
A host has not been announced. President Donald Trump hosted the event last year.
It remains unknown which channel will air the televised version of the program, or which day the broadcast will be. The ceremony traditionally aired on CBS, but Variety reports that the network’s rights to the event expired after 2025.
We’ll be sure to let you know whenever the channel and broadcast time is announced. In the meantime, join us in congratulating Barbara Mandrell and the other honorees!
