Who is Sarah Cannon?

While many knew and loved Sarah Ophelia Colley Cannon, many more were touched by "Cousin Minnie Pearl," the sweet country character she created. Like the fun-loving Minnie Pearl, Sarah Cannon has become an American legend known for her humor, generosity and compassion.

Sarah officially adopted the name Minnie Pearl in 1938. Two years later, she debuted her comedy act on the Grand Ole Opry, and became its first female act. In 1942, at 28 years old, she joined the Grand Ole Opry's weekly national telecast.

As Sarah continued her act through the years, Minnie Pearl became a national phenomenon as she won the hearts of country fans everywhere. She also amassed a number of honors. She was named Nashville's "Woman of the Year" in 1965, and in 1966, she became the first woman to be named Billboard's "Man of the Year" for country music. Sarah was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1975, was awarded the National Medal of Arts in 1992, and became the first woman inducted into the Comedy Hall of Fame in 1994.

Sarah's contributions to the field of cancer research are as memorable as her contributions to the entertainment industry. In 1985, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a double mastectomy and treatment at Centennial Medical Center. As she said,"Cancer can change your life at the drop of a hat. I know. It changed mine."

Even during her illness, Sarah wanted to find a way to help others. In 1991, she lent the name of her character to The Minnie Pearl Cancer Foundation and became an advocate for cancer research and education.

Sarah went on to become an active supporter of the American Cancer Society, firmly believing in the value of patient education and community awareness. She knew the value of early detection and a team approach to cancer care.

Sarah died in Nashville, Tennessee, on March 4, 1996. She was 83 years old. Her life is a testament that laughter and a strong human spirit in the face of any situation can bring joy to the world.

She graciously gave her name to our center, and we use her trademark, the Minnie Pearl hat, as our symbol. Our activities are categorized as follows:

We dedicate this web site to her memory.