• ABOUT
    • Contact
    • The Team
    • Editorial Calendar
    • Events
    • FAQ
    • Use & Privacy Policy
  • ADVERTISE
  • ROWFAX
  • THE SPORTS CREDENTIAL
  • JOB LISTINGS
MusicRow.com
  • CALENDARS
    • Album/EP Releases
    • Single/Track Releases
    • Industry Events
  • OBITS
  • CHARTS
    • Radio Chart (Current)
    • Radio Chart (Archives)
    • No. 1 Challenge Coin
    • Songwriter Chart (Current)
    • Songwriter Chart (Archives)
  • REVIEWS
  • MY STORY
  • NEWSLETTER
    • Newsletter (Current)
    • SIGN UP (FREE!)
    • Newsletter (Archives)
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • STORE
  • Search
  • Menu

Bobby Karl Works The Room: Belmont Celebrates Minnie Pearl Film

January 20, 2023/in Uncategorized /by Bobby Karl

Pictured (L-R): Mary Ellen Pethel, filmmaker Barbara J. Hall, Don Cusic, Joann Berry and Kathy Mattea speak onstage at the Facing the Laughter: Minnie Pearl NPT documentary preview event at Belmont University. Photo: Sam Simpkins

Chapter 665

Belmont University exhibited its party-throwing abilities on Thursday evening (Jan. 19) with a three-hour gala to salute NPT’s new documentary about the legendary Minnie Pearl.

The event featured the screening of excerpts from Facing the Laughter: Minnie Pearl, the first film to explore the life and legacy of the Country Music Hall of Fame comedian. Staged at the school’s awesome new Fisher Center performance hall, the bash also included Minnie-inspired art, cuisine, music and reminiscences.

Photo: Sam Simpkins

The Fisher Center’s marble lobby held displays of 35 colorfully elaborate, sculptural and floral hats designed by the university’s fashion students. These were inspired by the star’s trademark straw hat topped with fake flowers and a $1.98 price tag.

Guests sampled from a buffet that featured several dishes that can be found in Minnie Pearl’s popular cookbooks — chicken-salad tea sandwiches, deviled eggs, coleslaw, beef skewers, pork sliders, melon & berries, truffled mac & cheese bites, loaded fingerling potatoes, apple-crumb tortlettes, pecan tassies and chocolate torts.

Working the room were Dan Rogers, Demetria Kalodimos, Dave Pomeroy, Sarah Cates, Amy Smartt, Doug Howard, Brenda Colladay, Erin Morris, Kent Oliver, Ellen Pryor, Mike Martinovich, David Ewing, Greg Hall, Jules Wortman, Glenda Harper, Lisa Harless and Metro’s First Lady Laura Cooper. Belmont president Greg Jones greeted the throng, saying, “Tonight’s event celebrates the legacy of Sarah Colley Cannon, an alumnus of Ward-Belmont. She had a spirit [as Minnie Pearl] we want our students to emulate.”

He encouraged us to enter the fabulous concert hall, where we were serenaded by the school’s fine bluegrass ensemble — Billy Ayers, Justin Blanner, Ky Brandes, Marissa Colter and Jonathan Horne, plus its female-trio vocalists Elizabeth Dewey, Sydney Lee and Michelle Raybourne. They performed next to a mini “Grinder’s Switch” set designed by their fellow student, Susie Konstans.

Sylvia Harney, a Minnie Pearl character actor, performs. Photo: Sam Simpkins

Sylvia Harney, also a Belmont alumnus, came onstage in full Minnie Pearl regalia to do a short stand-up set of the legend’s jokes. Nashville’s Deputy mayor of Community Engagement Brenda Haywood brought greetings from Mayor John Cooper and offered a brief bio of the country superstar.

“She was a trail-blazing woman who changed comedy,” said Haywood. “She became a uniter here in the Athens of the South.”

NPT president Becky Magura presided. “What a tremendous night,” she exclaimed. “Thank you Belmont; you sure know how to throw a party.” She brought on the film’s producer/director, Barb Hall.

“I just hope I have done justice,” said Hall. “I hope you enjoy it.” She screened a brief segment of the 90-minute documentary.

Rodney Crowell, Kathy Mattea and John Jorgenson performed Crowell’s song “It’s Time to Go Inward,” which was inspired by Minnie’s wisdom. Mattea remained on stage to take part in panel discussion with filmmaker Hall, Joanne Berry and Don Cusic.

Pam Tillis shared a story of how Minnie had mentored her Hall of Fame dad, Mel Tillis. Minnie encouraged him to talk and be funny, assuring him that audiences would laugh with him, not at him, when he stuttered. Pam then performed her superbly written “Two Dollar Hat,” a song in the legendary lady’s honor.

Amy Grant speaks. Photo: Sam Simpkins

Amy Grant shared stories from her girlhood growing up in Music City that involved her interactions with Sarah Cannon (Minnie Pearl). “I don’t remember one thing she said, but I remember how she made me feel,” said Grant, adding that one of her daughters is named in the star’s honor.

“Hasn’t this been a wonderful night?” asked Brenda Lee. “I began touring with Minnie when I was 10 years old. I learned so much from her. Not as an entertainer, but as a good person.

“Miss Minnie, I wish you could be here tonight. Because you can still fill up a room.”

A second segment of Facing the Laughter was screened, spotlighting Minnie Pearl’s tenure on Hee Haw. Then Sarah Cannon Cancer Center leader Jonathan Tinker told of the her philanthropy, stating that 2/3 of the recently approved cancer-treating drugs were in clinical trials there. Sarah/Minnie’s largess also extended to Belmont, which was the recipient of some of her estate. Sarah Ophelia Colley Cannon received an honorary doctorate from Belmont in 1989.

Facing the Laughter: Minnie Pearl officially premieres on Feb. 6 in area theaters. This is NPT’s first theatrical film.

 

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Bobby Karl
Latest posts by Bobby Karl (see all)
  • Bobby Karl Works The Room: Belmont Celebrates Minnie Pearl Film - January 20, 2023
  • Bobby Karl Works The Room: Recording Academy Tosses Fab Bash For Grammy Nominees - January 19, 2023
  • Bobby Karl Works The Room: Gospel Great Dr. Bobby Jones Honored At NMAAM - January 17, 2023
Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share by Mail
https://musicrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/i-5wRVzRT-4K-scaled.jpeg 1707 2560 Bobby Karl https://musicrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.png Bobby Karl2023-01-20 14:39:582023-01-20 14:39:58Bobby Karl Works The Room: Belmont Celebrates Minnie Pearl Film

RECENT NEWS

  • Bobby Karl Works The Room: Belmont Celebrates Minnie Pearl Film January 20, 2023
  • When Two Worlds Collide: A Look Inside Hardy’s Genre-Defying ‘The Mockingbird & The Crow’ [Interview] January 20, 2023
  • Blake Shelton Helps Break Ground On New Ole Red Las Vegas Location January 20, 2023
  • Aaron Lewis To Kick Off His ‘American Patriot Acoustic Tour’ Tonight January 20, 2023
  • Beyond The Row: MusicRow’s Sherod Robertson Climbs Mount Kilimanjaro January 20, 2023
  • Zach Bryan To Launch ‘Burn, Burn, Burn Tour’ This Summer January 20, 2023
  • Luke Combs Goes No. 1 On MusicRow Chart With ‘Going, Going, Gone’ January 20, 2023
  • Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp CEO Butch Spyridon To Retire After 32 Years January 20, 2023
  • Industry Celebrates Jelly Roll’s ‘Son Of A Sinner’ With No. 1 Party January 19, 2023
  • Bobby Karl Works The Room: Recording Academy Tosses Fab Bash For Grammy Nominees January 19, 2023
  • CRB Announces Unemployment & Student Rates For CRS 2023 January 19, 2023
  • DISClaimer Single Reviews: Jordan Davis Gets ‘Steamy & Sexy’ On Newest Release January 19, 2023
  • Ross Ellis Signs With UMPG Nashville & Brad Tursi January 19, 2023
  • Dierks Bentley Closes Out Historic Era At Nashville’s Iconic Exit/In With New Video January 19, 2023
  • Industry Ink: Randy Travis Foundation, Outback Presents, Milestone Publicity January 19, 2023

Like Us on Facebook

Follow Us on Twitter

Tweets by MusicRow
© 2023 Music Row Enterprises, LLC – All rights reserved.
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
Scroll to top