Thelma Louise Mandrell was born July 13, 1954 to Mary Ellen (née McGill; born 1931) and Irby Matthew Mandrell (1924 – 2009) in Corpus Christi, Texas. She is the second of three daughters. Sister Barbara is five and a half years older; sister Irlene is one and a half years younger. \n', 'Her mother, Mary, was a homemaker and musician hailing from a large family in 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 3 decades.\n', '

Although Louise Mandrell never developed the scale of fan base or the worldwide recognition that her older sister Barbara gained in country music, she is still credited as one of country music\'s more successful female vocalists of the 1980s. With their parents coming from a musical background, Barbara started off working as a singer, and playing the steel guitar and other instruments, and toured with Patsy Cline in the early 1960s. Louise learned to play the guitar and bass. Soon, their parents founded the Mandrell Family Band, which toured the United States and Asia.\n', '

Barbara\'s professional recognition in country music in the early 1970s with hits like "Treat Him Right", "Show Me" and "The Midnight Oil" gave Louise opportunities at success. She started performing in Barbara\'s band The DoRites, which toured with Merle Haggard in the early 1970s.[citation needed] Her first time in the studio was on the recording "Always Wanting You", a no. 1 hit for Haggard in 1975.[citation needed] In 1978, Louise signed with Epic Records.\n', '

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