Grand Ole Opry member is part of 2024-25 Folsom Concert Association series
Grand Ole Opry member Mandy Barnett, hailed as one of Nashville’s enduring musical treasures, will take the stage at the Harris Center for the Arts in Folsom this Sunday afternoon. Known for her captivating voice, Barnett has performed on stages around the world, having started singing at just five years old and never looked back.
Barnett’s appearance marks the second in a series of five nationally and internationally acclaimed concerts presented by the Folsom Concert Association (FCA). The series, which features a wide range of musical genres, will continue at the Harris Center through May 2025.
Rooted in the classic country and pop sounds of iconic singers, Barnett’s style is characterized by her deep emotional interpretation and powerhouse performances, described by the Los Angeles Times as “pipes of steel.” One record executive noted, “Mandy Barnett is a song’s best friend.”
Barnett first gained national attention as the original star of the hit jukebox musical Always… Patsy Cline at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. She performed as Cline on the original cast soundtrack and remains the only actress to have played the role on the historic Ryman stage, where Cline herself became a legend. Barnett’s sold-out performances at the Ryman earned rave reviews, and she has continued to wow audiences with her concerts and recordings ever since.
Her critically acclaimed albums include I’ve Got a Right to Cry, named “Top Country Album” by Rolling Stone the year it was released. The album was produced by Nashville Sound pioneer Owen Bradley, who also produced hits for Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, and Brenda Lee. Rolling Stone further recognized Barnett’s album by placing it on two of its “best of” lists for classic country works in 2019.
In addition to her country albums, Barnett has explored other genres. Her 2018 album, Strange Conversation, is an Americana blend of roots, pop, and R&B tunes, featuring a duet with John Hiatt and a soulful rendition of Neil Sedaka’s My World Keeps Slipping Away, which Sedaka himself sent to Barnett to record. AllMusic praised the album as the “richest record of her career,” and The Philadelphia Inquirer included it among the best country/roots albums of 2018.
Barnett has also contributed to other musical projects, including singing on the SpongeBob SquarePants album The Best Day Ever, alongside artists like Brian Wilson and Tommy Ramone. She often incorporates standards from the Great American Songbook into her live performances and has cited composers like Cole Porter and George Gershwin as influences, alongside country legends like Willie Nelson and Dolly Parton.
Her 2020 album, A Nashville Songbook, features reimagined pop and country classics and was inspired by her popular “Nashville Songbook” concert. In 2021, Barnett released Every Star Above, a tribute to Billie Holiday’s Lady in Satin album, which earned a spot on Variety’s list of the best albums of the year.
Barnett has performed with symphony orchestras, including the Nashville Symphony and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and made her New York City cabaret debut at Feinstein’s/54 Below in 2019. Her music has also appeared in major film and television soundtracks, with recent features in The Flash on The CW.
In 2020, Barnett was honored by the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development with a Tennessee Music Pathways marker in her hometown of Crossville, recognizing her contributions to the state’s musical heritage.
The Folsom Concert Association has presented 135 concerts over the past 29 years and is known for offering affordable performances to the community. As a nonprofit, the FCA reinvests its revenue into bringing professional musicians to seniors, providing scholarships to high school students, and refurbishing instruments for underprivileged youth.
Barnett’s performance is scheduled for Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Harris Center for the Arts, located on the Folsom Lake College campus at 10 College Parkway. Tickets range from $42 to $57. Tickets can be purchased online HERE or by calling the Harris Center box office at (916) 608-6888.
For more information about the Folsom Concert Association and its mission to bring world-class music to the region, visit www.folsomconcertassociation.org. Folsom Times is proud to be a sponsoring partner in supporting the arts in Folsom and across the Sacramento area.
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