God has a plan for all of us, but He expects us to do our share of the work. Minnie Pearl
I grew up in a household that loved country music, so I am familiar with Minnie Pearl, her hat with the price tag hanging down, and her HOW-DEE! She was always entertaining and sometimes slightly naughty. I didn’t catch on to the latter until adulthood, and it turns out that there was quite a lot more about her that I didn’t know.
Minnie Pearl's Start in Life - Sarah Cannon
Perhaps I shouldn’t have been surprised, but there isn’t much online about her life. However, I did find some personal information on Britannica. Sarah Ophelia Colley Cannon was born in Centerville, Tennessee. In case you aren’t familiar with that little town, it’s southwest of Bucksnort, north of Hohenwald, and west of Fly, Tennessee. Better now? Clearly, Ms. Cannon’s hometown is not a booming Metropolis, which may be one reason her public persona was somewhat countrified. She certainly seemed to fit the stereotypical roles seen on the Grand Ole Opry and Hee Haw. I probably assumed that she and her character were synonymous. Not so much.
A Brain was Under that Straw Hat
Cannon graduated from Ward Belmont College, now known as Belmont University, with a plan to become an actress and dancer. She taught dance for a while, but then snagged a job with a theatrical dance company out of Atlanta. As she traveled through small towns promoting the shows, her Minnie Pearl persona developed. The Tennessee Encylopedia tells us that her character began, in large part, after she was a lodger in the home of a mountain woman who was a great storyteller. Her appearance for Minnie Pearl was, purportedly, a composite of people she met over the years and that composite likely helped her capitalize on her next opportunity.
In 1940, she auditioned for and won a spot on the Grand Ole Opry radio show, and she stayed with the Opry for more than 50 years. So why did she leave?
Tough Times Amid the Glory
Cannon was diagnosed with and treated for breast cancer in 1985. Bad things happened even in Grinder’s Switch. She subsequently volunteered her time with Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital, the National Heart Association, and the American Cancer Society, though she also continued to work.
She must have shown impressive character and donated significant time because the American Cancer Society recognized her efforts with a courage award. And in 1991, the Centennial Medical Center dedicated its cancer unit to her name.
Cannon was also named to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1975 and was awarded a National Medal of the Arts in 1991. Sadly, she was unable to travel to the White House to accept her award, having recently suffered a stroke. Sometime later, another followed, and it was the one that led to the complications which ultimately claimed her life.
Lessons from the Lady with the Signature Hat
As I think about what I’ve learned about Sarah Colley Cannon, three big things come to mind.
- You can’t tell by the hat what’s going on underneath. The character and the person are not the same. One is entertaining but shallow. The other is compassionate and generous with her time and talent to improve the lives of others.
- You never know what’s going on in the lives of others by the face they present publicly. They could be facing cancer. Or a stroke. Or something else.
- Bad experiences can lead create a servant mentality in some people. Not all, of course. But it happened with Sarah Cannon unless she was born with an exceptionally giving personality. Good results aren’t always and only the product of good experiences.
No question that sickness and bad luck and horrible experiences arising from poor judgment stink. But that doesn’t mean life has to stay stinky. We can make it better with the right attitude. Well, that and a steady effort to change what is within our power to change. All of us have the potential. We just need to flip the switch.
