Barbara Mandrell & Reba McEntire's Matching Flippy Haircuts Are So Glamorous
From the length to the bangs, the two country icons stunned while wearing the same hairstyle in 2005.
Barbara Mandrell and Reba McEntire both delighted country fans when they appeared at NBC’s Opry 100: A Live Celebration special, which is now streaming on Peacock. Kelsea Ballerini paid tribute to Mandrell’s legacy in the genre with a special performance, while McEntire rocked the Grand Ole Opry House all night long with several songs.
It was a sweet reunion to see both Mandrell and McEntire at the same event honoring 100 years of country music, especially as their friendship is decades in the making. In fact, 20 years ago, they even matched in the hair department when McEntire was on-hand to honor Mandrell with a significant award.
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Barbara Mandrell and Reba McEntire looked so glamorous with their matching flippy hairstyles in 2005
Mandrell and McEntire were a stunning dynamic duo at the 40th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards in May 2005.
At the event, the two appeared on stage together — McEntire in a violet silk halter top, Mandrell in a ruby red off-the-shoulder gown. Noticeably, they also both styled their hair cut just above their shoulders with gorgeous flippy layers and wispy bangs.
In the photo of the two country stars from 2005, the Happy’s Place star had just presented Mandrell with the ACM Triple Crown Award, which has been given to musicians who’ve won Best New Artist, Top Vocalist in their respective category, and Entertainer of the Year, as Billboard explains.
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“She’s a true inspiration and personal hero of mine, and she really was country before country was cool,” McEntire said at the award ceremony, referencing Mandrell's 1981 hit song. “She was crossover before people used the word. And believe me, every country artist here owes a debt to her for starring in a hit variety series that made watching country cool for everybody. I know I wouldn't have a sitcom today if she hadn’t paved the way for me. It’s true.”
The variety show McEntire mentioned was the Barbara Mandrell & the Mandrell Sisters, which aired for two seasons on NBC from 1980 to 1982.
“We don’t always get to meet our heroes, much less get close enough to ‘em to call them our friends,” McEntire continued at the 2005 ACM Awards. “I’m one of the lucky ones. She’s both a hero and friend to me. I love her like a sister, and that’s why I’m proud to be here tonight to honor my buddy, Barbara Mandrell.”
After the two shared a hug, Mandrell expressed her love and admiration for McEntire. “The first thing I wanna say is I love, with all of my being, this woman, Reba."
At the time, Mandrell had been retired from country music for several years. “I don’t even think you can imagine how this feels to me right now,” she told the audience. “It’s a wonderful feeling to me to be remembered because I quit my music career seven years ago, and you remember me and I don’t think you have any idea how much I love you and pray for you every day.”
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Reba McEntire is grateful for trailblazing country stars like Barbara Mandrell
Over the years, McEntire has shared how grateful she is for female country stars who came before her, including Mandrell, who burst onto the music scene in 1969.
“You know what’s really important is to pay homage to the women who paved the road for me. Dolly, Loretta, Tammy, Barbara Mandrell,” McEntire said during an appearance on The Jennifer Hudson Show in 2023. “They had a lot of big ‘ol chug holes, potholes that they had to go around. And they had them kind of paved over before we got there. Nice of ‘em to do that.”
