Minnie Pearl facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Minnie Pearl
Pearl in 1965
Born	Sarah Ophelia Colley (1912-10-25)October 25, 1912 Centerville, Tennessee, U.S.
Died	March 4, 1996(1996-03-04) (aged 83) Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
Resting place	Mount Hope Cemetery, Franklin, Tennessee, U.S.
Alma mater	Ward-Belmont College
Occupation	Country comedienne
Years active	1939–1991
Television	Hee-Haw
Spouse(s)	Henry R. Cannon ​ (m. 1947)​

Sarah Ophelia Colley Cannon (born October 25, 1912 – died March 4, 1996) was a famous American comedian. She was best known by her stage name, Minnie Pearl. For over 50 years, from 1940 to 1991, she performed at the Grand Ole Opry. She was also a regular on the popular TV show Hee Haw from 1969 to 1991.

The Life of Minnie Pearl

Growing Up and Early Life

Sarah Colley was born in Centerville, Tennessee, on October 25, 1912. This town is about 50 miles southwest of Nashville, Tennessee. She was the youngest of five daughters. Her father owned a successful sawmill and timber business in Centerville.

Sarah went to Ward-Belmont College in Nashville. At that time, it was a very respected school for young women. She studied theater and dance there. After graduating, she taught dance for a few years.

Starting a Comedy Career

Sarah's first professional job was with a traveling theater group called the Wayne P. Sewell Production Company. She helped create and direct plays and musicals for local groups in small towns across the southeastern United States.

While working, she often gave short talks to promote the shows. During these talks, she started to develop her Minnie Pearl character. In Baileyton, Alabama, she met a woman from the mountains whose way of speaking and dressing inspired "Cousin Minnie Pearl."

Her very first performance as Minnie Pearl was in 1939 in Aiken, South Carolina. She bought her famous hat with the price tag on it from a local department store before the show.

Joining the Grand Ole Opry

The next year, in 1940, people from Nashville radio station WSM saw her perform. They invited her to appear on the Grand Ole Opry. Her first show there was on November 30, 1940. She was a big hit! This started her long career with the Grand Ole Opry, which lasted for over 50 years.

Minnie Pearl's Comedy Style

Minnie Pearl's comedy gently made fun of rural Southern culture. She often talked about her fictional hometown, Grinders Switch. Minnie always wore a frilly "down home" dress and a hat with a $1.98 price tag still hanging from it.

Her famous greeting was a loud, drawn-out "Howdy! I'm just so proud to be here!" As she became more famous, audiences would often shout it back to her. Minnie Pearl's jokes often involved her trying to find a boyfriend or making fun of her own age.

She also told funny stories about her silly relatives, like "Uncle Nabob" and "Brother." She usually ended her shows by saying, "I love you so much it hurts!" She also sang funny songs and danced with Grandpa Jones.

Minnie Pearl's hat on display at the National Museum of American History.

Minnie Pearl got many of her funny ideas from her real hometown of Centerville. She called it Grinders Switch, which was actually a tiny community outside Centerville with just a railroad switch. People who knew her said her characters were often based on real people from Centerville. So many fans looked for Grinders Switch that the road sign was eventually changed to "Hickman Springs Road."

Minnie Pearl on Television

Cannon played Minnie Pearl on many TV shows. She was on ABC's Ozark Jubilee in the late 1950s. Then she became a big star on the long-running show Hee Haw. She also appeared on NBC's The Ford Show, Starring Tennessee Ernie Ford.

She was a guest on game shows like Match Game and Hollywood Squares. Her last regular TV appearances were on Ralph Emery's Nashville Now on The Nashville Network (TNN). On that show, she would read jokes sent in by viewers.

Cannon also made a short appearance in the movie Coal Miner's Daughter. She played Minnie Pearl at the Opry in the film.

Minnie Pearl's Family Life

A statue of Minnie Pearl sits next to a statue of Roy Acuff in the lobby of Ryman Auditorium.

On February 23, 1947, Sarah Colley married Henry R. Cannon. Henry was a fighter pilot during World War II. After the war, he started his own air charter service for country music stars. He also became Minnie Pearl's manager.

Henry's clients included famous musicians like Eddy Arnold, Hank Williams, and Elvis Presley. Sarah and Henry did not have any children. In 1969, they bought a large home in Nashville next to the Tennessee Governor's mansion.

Helping with Cancer Research

Sarah Ophelia Cannon battled breast cancer and had serious treatments, including surgery and radiation. After her recovery, she became a spokesperson for the medical center where she was treated. She did this as herself, Sarah Ophelia Cannon, not as Minnie Pearl.

A non-profit group, the Minnie Pearl Cancer Foundation, was created in her honor to help fund cancer research. The medical center where she was treated was later named the Sarah Cannon Cancer Center. It has grown to include many hospitals. Her name is also used for the Sarah Cannon Research Institute.

Final Years and Legacy

In June 1991, Cannon had a serious stroke, which ended her performing career. She lived in a nursing home in Nashville and received many visits from music stars.

She passed away on March 4, 1996, at age 83, due to complications from another stroke. She is buried in Mount Hope Cemetery in Franklin, Tennessee.

Minnie Pearl had a big impact on younger female country singers and comedians. In 1992, she received the National Medal of Arts. In 2002, she was ranked number 14 on CMT's list of the 40 Greatest Women in Country Music.

Bronze statues of Minnie Pearl and Roy Acuff are on display in the lobby of the Ryman Auditorium. There was once a museum dedicated to Minnie Pearl near the Grand Ole Opry House, but it closed in 1997. Many of her items were moved to the Grand Ole Opry Museum.

Books by Minnie Pearl

Minnie Pearl's Music Recordings

Albums

Songs on Other Albums

Minnie Pearl also appeared on albums by other stars or on collections of songs by different artists.

Singles (Individual Songs)

Minnie Pearl released many single songs. She recorded some duets with Grandpa Jones. In the 1960s, she had a top-10 hit song called "Giddyup Go – Answer." This song was a response to Red Sovine's famous song "Giddyup Go."

In 1974, she and Archie Campbell released a funny version of Loretta Lynn and Conway Twitty's hit song "As Soon As I Hang Up the Phone." In 1977, she sang on Dolly Parton's album New Harvest...First Gathering on the song "Applejack." In 1986, she was a guest singer on Ray Stevens' comedy song "Southern Air," which also made it into the top 70 on the Billboard charts.