Minnie Pearl was the stage name of Sarah Ophelia Colley Cannon (October 25, 1912 - March 4, 1996). She was a country comedian who, along with friend Roy Acuff, was an institution at the Grand Ole Opry, and on the television show Hee Haw from 1969 to 1991. She was known for wearing a big hat with a price tag that read "$1.98" hanging off the side. Image File history File links Minniepearl. ... October 25 is the 298th day of the year (299th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1912 (MCMXII) was a leap year starting on Monday in the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Tuesday in the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... Centerville is a town located in Hickman County, Tennessee. ... March 4 is the 63rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (64th in leap years). ... 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... This article includes a list of works cited but its sources remain unclear because it lacks in-text citations. ... A comedian, or comic, is an entertainer who amuses an audience by making them laugh. ... 1939 (MCMXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full year calendar). ... 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... This official history of the Country Music Hall of Fame skirts the scandals well-documented by veteran Music Row historian Stacy Harris. ... The Grand Ole Opry is a weekly Saturday night country music radio program broadcast live on WSM radio in Nashville, Tennessee, and televised on Great American Country network. ... October 25 is the 298th day of the year (299th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1912 (MCMXII) was a leap year starting on Monday in the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Tuesday in the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... March 4 is the 63rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (64th in leap years). ... 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... A comedian, or comic, is an entertainer who amuses an audience by making them laugh. ... Roy Acuff on the cover of The Great Roy Acuff (1964) Roy Claxton Acuff (15 September 1903 – 23 November 1992) was an American country musician. ... The Grand Ole Opry is a weekly Saturday night country music radio program broadcast live on WSM radio in Nashville, Tennessee, and televised on Great American Country network. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... For the Stargate SG-1 episode, see 1969 (Stargate SG-1). ... 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Early life

Sarah Ophelia Colley was born in Centerville, Tennessee in Hickman County, Tennessee about 50 miles (80 km) southwest of Nashville. She graduated from what was then Nashville, Tennessee's most prestigious school for young ladies, Ward-Belmont. Centerville is a town located in Hickman County, Tennessee. ... Official language(s) English Capital Nashville Largest city Memphis Largest metro area Nashville Area  Ranked 36th  - Total 42,169 sq mi (109,247 km²)  - Width 120 miles (195 km)  - Length 440 miles (710 km)  - % water 2. ... Hickman County is a county located in the state of Tennessee. ... Nickname: Location in Davidson County and the state of Tennessee Coordinates: Country United States State Tennessee Counties Davidson County Founded: 1779 Incorporated: 1806 Government  - Mayor Bill Purcell (D) Area  - City  526. ... Ward-Belmont was a former ladies seminary located in Nashville, Tennessee on the grounds of the antebellum estate of Adelicia Acklen, Belmont. ...

Professional career

Her family, relatively affluent by the standards of the area and the day, was scandalized by her entry into show business. Her first professional position was with the Wayne P. Sewell Production Company, producing and directing plays and musicals for local organizations in small towns throughout the Southeast.

While producing an amateur musical comedy in Baileyton, AL, she met a young mountain woman on whom she based her onstage persona, "Cousin Minnie Pearl". Her first performance onstage as Minnie Pearl was in 1939 in Aiken, SC.

Her catch phrase was always, "Howdeeee! I'm jest so proud to be here!" delivered at what seemed to have been the top of her lungs. Once she was an established star, her audience almost invariably shouted "Howdeeee!" back to her. A catch phrase is a phrase or expression that is popularized, usually through repeated use, by a real person or fictional character. ...

Pearl's monologues almost always involved her comical relatives, notably "Uncle Nabob" and "Brother", who was simultaneously both slow-witted and wise. Her frequent exit line to applause was "I love you so much it hurts!" She also sang comic novelty songs, some of which were released as singles, such as "How To Catch A Man."

As a performer, Pearl's comedy was always a gentle and loving satire of her hometown of Centerville, which, in her act she called Grinder's Switch, a real location just outside of Centerville that consisted of little more than the eponymous railroad switch. Those who knew her recognized that the characters were largely based on real residents of Centerville. So much traffic resulted from fans and tourists looking for the hometown she described that the Hickman County Highway Department was finally motivated to change the designation on the "Grinder's Switch" road sign to "Hickman Springs Road". Attempts over the years to develop a Grinder's Switch theme park have proven futile. Grinders Switch is a real location just outside of Centerville, Tennessee, which consists of little more than the eponymous railroad switch. ... An eponym is the name of a person, whether real or fictitious, who has (or is thought to have) given rise to the name of a particular place, tribe, discovery, or other item. ... This is the top-level page of WikiProject trains Rail tracks Rail transport refers to the land transport of passengers and goods along railways or railroads. ... Tourists on Oʻahu, Hawaii Tourism is travel for predominantly recreational or leisure purposes, and also refers to the provision of services in support of this act. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

Her character was always presented as a man-hungry spinster willing to settle for almost anything in the way of male companionship. In real life, she was happily married for many years to Henry Cannon. They had no children. It wont be my fault if I die an Old Maid. ...

In the late 1960s, Mrs. Cannon and African-American gospel singer Mahalia Jackson were convinced to allow their names to be associated with a chain of fried chicken restaurants in competition with Kentucky Fried Chicken by Nashville entrepreneur John Jay Hooker. At first the stock price of this venture soared; later it collapsed amid allegations of accounting irregularities and stock price manipulation. This affair was thoroughly investigated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Mrs. Cannon and Ms. Jackson were found to have been completely uninvolved in any alleged wrongdoing, but were considerably embarrassed by the negative publicity surrounding their names. (A small number of these restaurants actually survived into the 1980s in the Middle Tennessee area; one Mahalia Jackson outlet still exists in North Nashville where it has considerable local fame, particularly among students of Tennessee State University.) Gospel music refers to the religious music that first came out of African-American churches in the first quarter of the twentieth century or, more loosely, to both black gospel music and to the religious music composed and sung by predominately white Southern Gospel artists. ... Mahalia Jackson (October 26, 1911[1] – January 27, 1972) was an American gospel singer, widely regarded as the best in the history of the genre. ... KFCs Fried chicken with French fries. ... KFC (full name Kentucky Fried Chicken) is a division of Yum! Brands, Inc. ... For the computer game previously called Entrepreneur, see The Corporate Machine. ... John Jay Hooker, Jr. ... For other uses, see Stock (disambiguation). ... It has been suggested that Accounting scholarship be merged into this article or section. ... The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, commonly referred to as the SEC, is the United States governing body which has primary responsibility for overseeing the regulation of the securities industry. ... Middle Tennessee is a distinct portion of the state of Tennessee, delineated according to law as well as custom. ... Tennessee State University (TSU) is a comprehensive, urban, coeducational land-grant university founded in 1912. ...

As noted above, Mrs. Cannon portrayed the "Minnie Pearl" character for many years on the perennial Saturday night television cornfest Hee Haw, both on the original network and subsequent syndicated versions. This may have been less taxing than it would appear; the program was shot entirely in Nashville and totally out of sequence, so that each performer could record all of his or her appearances for an entire television season in a matter of a few days or parts of days. When asked why the cornball program was so popular, Cannon explained that it took viewers to a place where there was "no war, no cancer." This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... In the television industry (as in radio), syndication is the sale of the right to broadcast programs to multiple stations, without going through a broadcast network. ... Template:More soruces For other uses, see War (disambiguation). ... Cancer is a class of diseases or disorders characterized by uncontrolled division of cells and the ability of these to spread, either by direct growth into adjacent tissue through invasion, or by implantation into distant sites by metastasis (where cancer cells are transported through the bloodstream or lymphatic system). ...

Her final regular national television appearances came on Ralph Emery's nightly Nashville Now country-music talk show on the former Nashville Network cable channel. She and Emery performed a weekly feature, "Let Minnie Steal Your Joke," in which viewers could send in jokes for Minnie to read on the show, with prizes for the best joke of the week. Walter Ralph Emery (born on March 10, 1933) is a famous country music disk jockey and television host. ... Spike TV logo Spike TV is a cable television network. ... Coaxial cable is often used to transmit cable television into the house. ...

Influence

Colley was fairly influential in the lives of many older country music singers taking something of a maternal interest in them, especially Hank Williams, but also many of the younger generation of female singers; she had seen many of the inequities in the treatment of women in business in general, and women in the country music industry in particular, firsthand. She was also a close friend of Paul Reubens and the legendary Dean Martin. This article includes a list of works cited but its sources remain unclear because it lacks in-text citations. ... It has been suggested that Audrey Williams be merged into this article or section. ... Paul Reubens (b. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

She was also trailblazer for rural humorists. Among those who followed in her footsteps were Jerry Clower, Jeff Foxworthy, Bill Engvall, Carl Hurley, Chonda Pierce, Ron White and Larry the Cable Guy. Howard Gerald Jerry Clower (b. ... Comedian Jeff Foxworthy accepts a new jacket from 3rd Infantry Division Commander Army Maj. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Carl Hurley or Carl Hurley, Ed. ... Chonda Pierce is a Christian comedienne often billed as The Queen of Clean. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

Cancer Research

In her later years, she lived in a prestigious Nashville neighborhood next to the Governor's Mansion, where she befriended several of the governors. After surviving breast cancer through aggressive treatments including a double mastectomy and radiation therapy, she became a spokeswoman for the medical center in Nashville where she had been treated and somewhat for cancer survivors in general. She took on this role as herself, Sarah Ophelia Cannon, not desiring the "Minnie Pearl" character to be associated with such misfortune, although a nonprofit group, the Minnie Pearl Cancer Foundation, has been founded in her memory to help fund cancer research. The center where she was treated was later named the Sarah Cannon Cancer Center, and has been expanded to several other hospitals in the Middle Tennessee and Southern Kentucky area. Her name has also been lent to the affiliated Sarah Cannon Research Institute. Notes 1East was Secretary of State for Tennessee from 1862-1865, appointed by Andrew Johnson, the military governor of the state under Union occupation during the American Civil War. ... Breast cancer is cancer of breast tissue. ... In medicine, mastectomy is the medical term for the surgical removal of one or both breasts, partially or completely. ... Clinac 2100 C100 accelerator Radiation therapy (or radiotherapy) is the medical use of ionizing radiation as part of cancer treatment to control malignant cells (not to be confused with radiology, the use of radiation in medical imaging and diagnosis). ... A non-profit organization (often called non-profit org or simply non-profit or not-for-profit) can be seen as an organization that doesnt have a goal to make a profit. ... Middle Tennessee is a distinct portion of the state of Tennessee, delineated according to law as well as custom. ...

Death

Her death at the age of 83 was brought on by complications due to a stroke. During her time in the nursing home, she was visited frequently by numerous country music industry figures, notably Chely Wright, Vince Gill and Amy Grant. She is buried at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Franklin, Tennessee. Stroke is the clinical designation for a rapidly developing loss of brain function due to an interruption in the blood supply to all or part of the brain. ... // A nursing home or skilled nursing facility (SNF) is a place of residence for people who require constant nursing care and have significant deficiencies with activities of daily living. ... Country singer Chely Wright signs an autograph for Joe Dan Worley, a wounded Marine in Iraq Richelle Renee Wright (born October 25, 1970), best known as Chely Wright, is a country music singer who released her debut album in 1994. ... Vince Gill Vince Gill (born April 12, 1957) is an American country music musician, songwriter, and singer. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Franklin is a city in Williamson County, Tennessee, USA. The population was 41,842 at the 2000 census, and as of 2007, the population is at 48,593. ...

Writings and Recordings

Ernest Jennings Ford (February 13, 1919 -October 17, 1991), better known by the stage name Tennessee Ernie Ford, was a pioneering U.S. recording artist and television host who enjoyed success in the country & western, pop, and gospel musical genres. ... Woodrow Wilson Red Sovine (17 July 1917 — 4 April 1980) was a country music singer. ... It has been suggested that Audrey Williams be merged into this article or section. ... Roy Acuff on the cover of The Great Roy Acuff (1964) Roy Claxton Acuff (15 September 1903 – 23 November 1992) was an American country musician. ...

Trivia

• Her stage name "Minnie Pearl" is based on the knitting term purl, for an inside out stitch, as a reference to her homespun image.

• Pearl's trademark straw hat was famous for having a price tag dangling from it which read "$1.98." This came from the fact that Minnie bought some silk flowers for the hat and forgot to remove the tag.

• Minnie Pearl's namesakes includes Amy Grant's daughter, Garth Brooks' daughter and Miss Marjorie Ann Reeves. [2]

• The song "Ophelia" by The Band was named after Minnie Pearl, according to drummer Levon Helm.

• She was mentioned in The Dead Milkmen's big hit, Punk Rock Girl

Knit hat, yarn, and knitting needles Knitting is a craft by which thread or yarn may be turned into cloth. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... For other uses, see Band. ... Levon Helm performing in The Last Waltz. ... The Dead Milkmen was a satirical punk rock/pop band that formed in 1983 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. ... Beelzebubba (album) is the fourth full-length studio album by the satirical punk band Dead Milkmen, released in 1988. ...

Culture References

• Chely Wright and Dean Sams (of Lonestar) posed for the bronze statues of Minnie Pearl and Roy Acuff which are displayed in the lobby of the Ryman Auditorium.

• Minnie Pearl had a cameo appearance in the film Coal Miner's Daughter. She appears at the Opry as herself.

• In the film Selena while Selena (Jennifer Lopez) is shopping for a gown in one scene, she dons a garish hat while her friend looks on disapprovingly, in her defense Selena then says "It's very Minnie Pearl!".

• Singer Pam Tillis had a tribute song in honor of Minnie Pearl called "Two Dollar Hat" with the chorus:

Year after year. Every week at the Ryman

She had 'em laughin' 'til she had 'em cryin',

Fate had a star; the world had a diamond

In a two dollar hat."

• She is mentioned in the song "Punk Rock Girl" by The Dead Milkmen

• In the comic strip Get Fuzzy, Minnie Pearl serves as the punchline:

Satchel - You know, Buck. Without your fang, you look like a different cat! You're like Inspector Clouseau without the mustache!

Bucky - Correction: I'm like Tom Selleck without the mustache.

Rob - Correction: You're like Minnie Pearl without the tag.

Country singer Chely Wright signs an autograph for Joe Dan Worley, a wounded Marine in Iraq Richelle Renee Wright (born October 25, 1970), best known as Chely Wright, is a country music singer who released her debut album in 1994. ... Lonestar is an American country music band consisting of Richie McDonald (lead vocals) (born Richard Vance McDonald, on 6 February 1962, in Mesquite, Texas), Michael Britt (guitar) (born Michael Wayne Britt, on 15 June 1966, in Fort Worth, Texas), Keech Rainwater (drums) (born Randy Keech Rainwater, on 24 January 1963... The Ryman Auditorium The Ryman Auditorium is a 2,362-seat live performance venue located at 116 Fifth Avenue North in Nashville, Tennessee, and is best-known as the one-time home of the Grand Ole Opry. ... DVD cover Loretta Lynn published her autobiography, Coal Miners Daughter, in the mid-70s. ... Selena is a 1997 biopic about the life and career of Tejana singer Selena Quintanilla Perez (1971-1995). ... Selena Quintanilla-Pérez (April 16, 1971 – March 31, 1995), best known as Selena, was a Mexican American singer who has been called the queen of Tejano music.[2] The youngest child of a Mexican-American couple, Selena released her first album at the age of twelve. ... J. Lo redirects here. ... Pam Tillis Pam Tillis (born July 24, 1957 in Plant City, Florida) is an American country music singer and actress. ... The Ryman Auditorium The Ryman Auditorium is a 2,362-seat live performance venue located at 116 Fifth Avenue North in Nashville, Tennessee, and is best-known as the one-time home of the Grand Ole Opry. ... The Dead Milkmen was a satirical punk rock/pop band that formed in 1983 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. ... Get Fuzzy is an American daily comic strip written and drawn by Darby Conley. ...

External links

• Minnie Pearl biography
• Virtual tour of the restoration of Minnie Pearl's mansion
• Sarah Cannon Cancer Center
• Sarah Cannon Research Institute
• The Minnie Pearl Cancer Foundation
• Minnie Pearl's Gravesite