8A the Journal Times, Sunday, Mar 2, 1986 Racine, Wis.

Mandrell returns: Country singer Barbara

Mandrell, recovered from auto accident injuries, gave

a sold-out Los Angeles audience of 6,000 fans heart-

tugging renditions of her biggest hits when she

returned to the stage.

Appearing at the Universal Amphitheatre on Friday

night with singer Dolly Parton, Mandrell gave a

performance that ran more than two hours.

Among the songs she performed were "I Was

Country When Country Wasn't Cool" and "Sleeping

Single in a Double Bed."

The event was a "welcome back" appearance for

Mandrell, who was seriously injured an automobile

accident near Nashville, Tenn.. in 1984. Mandrell's two

children were injured and the driver of the other car

was killed.

Telling her fans that she loved them, she urged

them all to wear seat belts, which she has credited

with saving her life in the accident.

Mandrell, 37, gave birth to a third child last year.

The singer was named female vocalist of the year by

the Country Music Association in 1979 and entertainer

of the year in 1980 and 1981.

During Friday night's performance, she sang "To

Me" in a duet with Grammy-winning country singer

Lee Greenwood.

Jim Nabors, Tammy Wynette, Morgan Fairchild

and Michele Lee were among the entertainers who

showed up for the performance to welcome Miss

Mandrell back to the stage

Associated Press

Barbara Mandrell hugs herself.

Singer performs in front of 6,000 in L.A.