Irlene Mandrell first rose to prominence as a model for CoverGirl, and later gained national attention when she appeared from 1980–1982 with her siblings on the highly rated Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters TV variety show. Shortly after the show's cancellation, she joined the cast of Hee Haw for a number of years as one of the "Hee Haw Honeys." She also appeared on two episodes of The Love Boat, and worked as a commercial spokesperson for a wide range of products. She has also competed in auto racing.
Since the late 1990s, Mandrell has hosted the annual Irlene Mandrell Celebrity Shoot to raise money for Wish Upon a Star, Inc. and the Boy Scouts of America.
Ellen Irlene Mandrell was born on January 29, 1956, to Mary Ellen (née McGill; born 1931) and Irby Matthew Mandrell (October 11, 1924 – March 5, 2009) in Corpus Christi, Texas. Sister Barbara is older by seven years; Louise, by a year and a half. Irlene's mother Mary was a homemaker and musician hailing from rural Wayne County, Illinois. Her father Irby was a World War II naval veteran and Texas police officer from Garland County, Arkansas. Irby Mandrell was an accomplished musician and entrepreneur, as well. He used his impeccable social skills and knowledge of the music industry to manage all three of his daughters' careers for over three decades.

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