## The Ultimate Entertainer
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Barbara Mandrell was arguably the most visible female star in the entire world of country music. A brilliant multi-instrumentalist who could play the steel guitar, saxophone, and banjo, she hosted her own wildly successful network television variety show and scored endless Number One hits. She was a two-time CMA Entertainer of the Year working at an impossibly grueling pace.
## A Head-On Collision
On September 11, 1984, Mandrell’s life was violently interrupted. While driving near her home in Nashville with two of her children in the car, a teenage driver crossed the center line and hit her silver Jaguar head-on. The other driver was killed instantly. Mandrell suffered a severely broken leg, massive lacerations, and a severe concussion. Thanks to the seatbelts she had miraculously insisted her children wear just moments before, they survived with minor injuries.
## A Slow, Painful Recovery
The physical and neurological trauma was devastating. Mandrell developed severe post-concussion syndrome, causing memory loss, confusion, and deep depression. She stepped completely away from the spotlight for over a year to heal. Although she eventually returned to performing, the trauma of the accident ultimately contributed to her decision to retire entirely from music in 1997, choosing family and health over the relentless demands of fame.