Scene - Blogs - Vince Gill Roy Clark Amy Grant and others pay tribute to Minnie Pearl

Vince Gill, Roy Clark, Amy Grant and others pay tribute to Minnie Pearl
Published: 10/28/2012 7:01 AM
Last Modified: 10/26/2012 1:30 PM

Minnie Pear and her trademark hat. Courtesy

Oklahoma music icon Vince Gill and wife Amy Grant, along with Tulsa resident Roy Clark and a host of stars paid tribute to Minnie Pearl during the centennial celebration of the comedienne's birth at Nashville's Grand Ole Opry.

Last week's Center Stage party benefited the Minnie Pearl Cancer Foundation. Pearl, aka Sarah Ophelia Colley Cannon was born in Centerville, Tenn. Her former neighbor, Tennessee Sen. Lamar Alexander, also showed up, as did The Oak Ridge Boys, Brenda Lee, Jeannie Seely and others, reported The Boot, AOL's country music blog.

"There was an elegance about Sarah Cannon,” said Gill, reported the Tennessean.

Billboard music industry magazine also quoted Gill: "She was just plain nice and was always considerate. She set a standard around in here because she would always sign the last autograph, and was courteous to the newcomer at the Opry or the young person who came here as a writer.

"She made it clear that if a hot shot singer moved to town and wasn't nice to people, that wasn't alright with her. I think by her example, she created a culture that still lasts in Nashville today with the fans knowing that if they come here, the stars will be down to earth."

Pearl died in 1996, but Gill also said her presence is as strong today as it ever was.

Cannon was a cancer education activist.

Minnie Pearl performs at Grand Ole Opry opening night in 1974:

Minnie Pearl with Roy Aycuff at the Grand Ole Opry:

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Barrelhouse Beat

Barrelhouse: A colloquialism describing the low saloons at the turn of the century (19th) that served whiskey straight out of the barrel. It's also a reference to the type of music played in those venues. Ex: Barrelhouse music.

Beat: The time or timing. Ex: The band played with a solid beat. Also used as a term describing a reporters specific area of expertise. Ex: The music beat.

About me: I'm Okie born and raised, and have lived all over the state: Oklahoma City, Enid, Moore, Norman, Edmond and Tulsa. I am a music geek, writer, graphic designer and amateur photographer and videographer who's followed the Tulsa and regional music scene since I moved to Green Country more than 10 years ago. I've been enmeshed in Tulsa's varied and vibrant musical night life, what some of us affectionately call a modernized throwback to the Barrelhouse scene, since that time. I fell in love with it. I fell hard.

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Past Articles By Jennifer Chancellor

2/17/2013		Tulsan Johnny Polygon a rapper who delights in hometown crowd
2/15/2013		The Who brings nostalgia, ingenuity to BOK Center
2/15/2013		Lady Gaga tour is canceled
2/15/2013		Audio Adrenaline concert moves to April 7
2/14/2013		The Who brings 'other' rock opera to Tulsa's BOK Center
2/14/2013		Okies nominated for several top ACM awards
2/14/2013		Epic moments of rock 'n' roll history in Tulsa
2/14/2013		The Who talks about 'Quadrophenia' rock opera ahead of BOK show Thursday
2/14/2013		Shawnee songstress Samantha Crain to play Tulsa CD release show Friday
2/14/2013		Rick Springfield to play River Spirit Event Center on Saturday
2/14/2013		Local music roundup: Vaudvillian sideshows? Nerd nights? Live music? Parties? Yes, yes, yes and yes.
2/14/2013		Eli Young band coming to Brady Theater for first time

Jennifer Chancellor's Blog Archive:

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Jennifer Chancellor
BarrelhouseBeat

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