Comments on: 100 Greatest Women, #40: Minnie Pearl

By: Tom

Tom — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 16:46:27 +0000

Correct me if I’m wrong but isn’t the name of this listing “100 Greatest Women” NOT “100 Greatest Female Vocalists”??? Therefore, it is absolutely ridiculous to place the truly legendary Minnie Pearl at only #40. Minnie was by far the biggest female star in country music during the 1940′s and she remained a household name for the rest of her life and was very well known with millions of people who didn’t know Connie Smith from Carl Smith or Jean Shepard from Gene Watson.

“Country music” is not just singers, it’s comedians, songwriters, and instrumentalists. You didn’t even bother to list Del Wood who was one of the very few female instrumentalists in any genre to make a major name for herself. Shame!

By: Rick

Rick — Thu, 29 May 2008 06:20:29 +0000

The legacy of Minnie Pearl lives on in a way in the form of a young Canadian country singer named Tammy Dee Gislason who sometimes performs in the guise of “Tammy Pearl”. Tammy is primarily a cowgirl singer and yodeler (and a darn good one to boot) and has been working for awhile now at the “Fiddler’s Feast Mountain Legacy Theater” attraction in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. I doubt her singing duties at the theater allow the “Tammy Pearl” persona to emerge very often, but it sounds like the perfect locale……..

By: Charlie

Charlie — Tue, 27 May 2008 20:20:33 +0000

Thanks Kevin. Did she make it out on stage during that “everything we got, we got the hard way” performance or had she passed by then?

By: Kevin

Kevin — Tue, 27 May 2008 18:59:41 +0000

Charlie,

With Minnie, it was a matter of balancing her iconic status as an Opry legend/television star with the fact that she created very little music. Your argument that a comedienne is an odd choice for such a list is legitimate, as are those who are saying she should be much higher because of her iconic status and den mother role to younger artists.

When CMT did their list of the 40 Greatest Women, she was #14. You can’t tell the story of women in country music without talking about Minnie Pearl. I think when this entire list is done, where I’ve ranked her will make more sense. I suspect the list will be stepping on quite a bit more toes, which is inevitable!

By: charlie

charlie — Tue, 27 May 2008 17:01:34 +0000

I am only slightly familiar with Pearl, but I am wondering if Cledus T. Judd or Jeff Foxworthy would be similarly respected on a 100 greatest men list? I know that these guys did not have the impact that Pearl probably did on up-and-comers, as well as on the Opry and they aren’t legends. But, Jeff Foxworthy is (or was) arguably as popular nationally as Pearl, and is a comedian who also has charted songs with Marty Stuart, Alan Jackson and Tim Rushlow. Foxworthy also came from more well-off beginnings before adopting a stage persona which is much more hillbilly/redneck. Would these guys rank among the 40 greatest men? This isn’t an argument, so much as a question to help me better understand Pearl’s place on the list.

By: Paul W Dennis

Paul W Dennis — Tue, 27 May 2008 10:32:31 +0000

Minnie Pearl was probably the most beloved figure in the history of country music. While her memory is fading from the public consciousness, there are available any number of DVDs where she appears and King has a 3 CD set of live Opry appearances (songs and comic routines). While she clearly belongs in the top 40 , I think she belongs much higher

By: Leeann

Leeann — Tue, 27 May 2008 03:04:14 +0000

In so many interviews, I have heard artists mention her with affection. It seems that she really served as a spiritual guide to a lot of them.

By: Jonathan at MTCM

Jonathan at MTCM — Tue, 27 May 2008 02:13:16 +0000

Minnie Pearl an excellent choice for starting your Top 40. Pam Tillis once said Minnie Pearl tried to talk her into become a comedian instead of singer. Kevin, I think you will agree with me when I say I am glad Pam did not take Minnie’s advice.