[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 29 (Wednesday, March 6, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1546-S1547]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO MINNIE PEARL

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I rise today in recognition and in memory 
of one of America's most beloved country personalities, Minnie Pearl, 
who died Monday night at the age of 83. Minnie Pearl was born Sarah 
Ophelia Colley, in Centerville, TN, the daughter of a prosperous 
sawmill owner and lumber dealer. As a student at Nashville's Ward-
Belmont Finishing School in the middle of the Great Depression, not 
many would have thought Sarah Colley had the background to believably 
portray Minnie Pearl, that man-hunting spinster from Grinder's Switch, 
TN. But her down home country comedy act, old-fashioned dresses, and a 
wide-brimmed hat with a price tag still dangling, found a place in the 
hearts of millions of Americans.
  Today, the State of Tennessee and the entire country mourn the loss 
of a truly outstanding and inspirational American.
  After completing her drama education at Ward-Belmont, where I should 
add that she was a student with my mother, Sarah Colley traveled 
throughout the rural South for 6 years, putting together amateur 
theatricals for churches and civic groups. During that time she met 
various country folk who formed the foundation for the character of 
Minnie Pearl, as well as Minnie's friends and neighbors from fictional 
Grinder's Switch. The name Minnie Pearl was actually a combination of 
Sara Colley's favorite country names.
  When she returned to Tennessee in 1940, the story-telling character 
of Minnie Pearl had fully developed, and WSM radio in Nashville asked 
her to audition for the Grand Ole Opry. A week after her audition, 
Minnie Pearl made her debut on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry and was 
an immediate hit. Before her second performance the next weekend, Miss 
Minnie had been asked to become a regular member of the Grand Ole Opry 
cast.
  In the 50 years since she burst onto the stage, Minnie Pearl traveled 
with country music legend Roy Acuff, entertained troops in World War 
II, and was featured on NBC-TV's ``This Is Your Life.'' She recorded 
numerous albums, continued her frequent appearances at the Grand Ole 
Opry, and appeared as a regular on the nationally syndicated television 
program, ``Hee Haw.'' In 1975 she became the first person elected to 
the Country Music Hall of Fame for comedy work, and she has been 
honored by the Academy of Country Music with its Pioneer Award.

  Unlike her country counterpart, Sarah Colley caught her man, Henry 
Cannon, and was married to him for more than 40 years, until her death 
this week. As active members of the Brentwood United Methodist Church 
just outside of Nashville, Sarah and Henry Cannon have been actively 
involved in charitable and community affairs all over this country. 
Sarah Cannon worked tirelessly for many causes, including the 
Children's Hospital, the American Cancer Society, and so many others. 
For her hard work for the Cancer Society, and in recognition of her

[[Page S1547]]

personal struggle against breast cancer, Sarah Cannon was awarded the 
American Cancer Society's 1987 National Courage Award.
  The Cancer Center at Centennial Medical Center, where she died this 
week, was named for her--the Sarah Cannon Cancer Center. That same 
year, she received the Roy Acuff Humanitarian Award for Community 
Service. The Nashville Network also created the Minnie Pearl Award in 
her honor, which is an annual community service award given to members 
of the country music industry for their dedication and commitment to 
their community.
  As I traveled across the State of Tennessee, so many entertainers and 
so many artists would come forward and recount stories about how they, 
when they first came to Nashville to break in but when nobody knew 
them, would be pulled over to the side by this legendary figure, Minnie 
Pearl, and Minnie Pearl would give them those words of encouragement 
and inspiration to plug ahead.
  Mr. President, I knew Minnie Pearl personally because my father was 
her family physician for about 35 years. Whether she was in character 
as Minnie Pearl or whether she was simply living in her own private 
life, or whether she was encouraging aspiring young artists upon their 
arriving in Nashville, Sarah Cannon touched the hearts and souls of all 
with whom she came into contact. It was her warm smile, her folksy 
humor, her words of encouragement, her tales, and most of all her 
famous ``How-dee'' greeting--these will all be missed by those whom 
Minnie Pearl had entertained for years.
  Her kind and loving character will be missed by those across the 
State of Tennessee and across this country. Mr. President, today I 
thank Minnie Pearl and Sarah Cannon for all that ``they'' have given to 
their community, to their State, and to their country.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor.

                          ____________________