At age 11, Marie Bottrell joined her two older siblings on stage for the first time. After earning her chops with the Whitestone County Band, Marie began recording for the Mercey Brothers' MBS label at just 17. Marie released her self-penned composition Just Reach Out And Touch Me in 1978. The positive reaction led to an invitation to join the Grand Ole Opry Show on its Canadian tour. After a successful second single made its way up the charts, Marie was rewarded with a nomination at RPM's Big Country Awards in the Outstanding New Artist category. Marie was voted Outstanding Female Performer by RPM in 1979 and over the course of her career she has scored four JUNO nominations and two wins as the CCMA Female Vocalist of the Year in 1983 and '84. Marie began touring with her own band and together, Marie Bottrell & Cottonwood appeared on all of the popular  shows of the day including; Tommy Hunter, The Joan Kennedy Show, Ronnie Prophet, The Family Brown Show and Ray St. Germain as well. Throughout her career, Marie has performed with Nashville stars like Tammy Wynette, Tom T. Hall, and Minnie Pearl. Marie was inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame in 2010.