It's one thing to be asked to sing on a tribute album, and another to have the honoree pick the song for you.

That's what happened with LeAnn Rimes, one of many artists on "She Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool: A Tribute to Barbara Mandrell," which comes out Tuesday on BNA Records.

Rimes, 24, works out at the same gym as Mandrell, and the two women have become good friends. Mandrell asked Rimes to record one of her most popular songs, "(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want to be Right," for the album. "I was thrilled to do that song," Rimes said.

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Mandrell, 57, retired in 1997 after 38 years as an entertainer. She recorded more than 50 Top-40 country hits.

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