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:
