Sarah Ophelia Colley Cannon, known as Cousin Minnie but best known as Minnie Pearl would have been 102 years old today. The famous comedienne of the Grand Ole Opry for more than 50 was born in Centerville, Tennessee on October 25, 1912. She was an important influence on younger female country music singers and rural humorists such as Jerry Clower, Jeff Foxworthy, Bill Engvall, Carl Hurley, David L Cook, Chonda Pierce, Ron White and Larry the Cable Guy. In 1992, she was awarded the National Medal of Arts. In 2002 she was ranked as number 14 on CMTs 40 Greatest Women in Country Music list. On February 23, 1947 she wed Henry Cannon, who soon set up his own air charter service for country music performers and took over management of the Minnie Pearl character. His clients in the charter service included Eddy Arnold, Colonel Tom Parker, Hank Williams, Carl Smith, Webb Pierce, and Elvis Presley. The couple had no children. Minnie was diagnosed breast cancer and 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, leading to the Minnie Pearl Cancer Foundation, which was 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 Middle Tennessee and southern Kentucky. Her name has also been lent to the affiliated Sarah Cannon Research Institute. Minnie suffered a serious stroke in June 1991, bringing her performing career to an end. After the stroke she resided in a Nashville nursing home where she received frequent visits from country music industry figures, including Chely Wright, Vince Gill and Amy Grant. Her death on March 4, 1996, at the age of 83, was attributed to complications from another stroke. As a child I remember the HowwwDeeee, Im glad to be here, every Saturday night on Hee Haw, Im sure you do too. Happy Birthday Minnie, you are definitely missed and will always be a treasured Icon of Country Music history......
Posted on: Sat, 25 Oct 2014 17:58:46 +0000
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