Country Star’s First Performance Was In Aiken
From Aiken to the Grand Ole Opry. This Country Star’s First Performance Was In Aiken. Sarah Ophelia Colley first performed as her alter ego, Cousin Minnie Pearl in 1939 in…
L-R: American musicians Minnie Pearl, Ray Charles and Willie Nelson smile together at an unidentified event, 1980s. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
From Aiken to the Grand Ole Opry. This Country Star's First Performance Was In Aiken. Sarah Ophelia Colley first performed as her alter ego, Cousin Minnie Pearl in 1939 in Aiken, South Carolina. The following year, executives from Nashville radio station WSM-AM saw her perform at a bankers' convention in Centerville, TN, and gave her an opportunity to appear on the Grand Ole Opry on November 30, 1940. The success of her debut on the show began an association with the Grand Ole Opry that continued for more than 50 years.
The Hat
That signature hat with the price tag still on it? According to Vacations Made Easy, Colley's first stage performance using her alter ego was in Aiken, South Carolina, where Pearl's comedy made history. Colley had designed the Minnie Pearl costume to reflect the hillbilly character and the outfit consisted of a cheap, thrift-store quality frilly cotton dress and cotton stockings. Before the show, she purchased a straw hat at a department store to complete her outfit but forgot to rip off the price tag. During her act, it slipped down into view. The audience thought the $1.98 price tag accident was hilarious and it became part of Pearl's signature wardrobe. That hat, with the price tag still on it, became as famous as her act.
$1.98
For 50 years, Minnie Pearl performed as a member of the Grand Ole Opry with her straw hat decorated with colorful plastic flowers and a $1.98 price tag, and her cheerful shout of “How-DEE!"
It all began in Aiken, SC!
promotional portrait for the TV sp NBC Television/Courtesy of Getty Images)Grandpa Jones (1913 - 1998) and Minnie Pearl (1912 - 1996), both featured performers on the television series, 'Hee Haw,' laugh while posing together in a promotional portrait for the TV special, 'The World's Largest Indoor Country Music Show,' 1978. (Photo by NBC Television/Courtesy of Getty Images)
