One of the things that makes Country Music so unique is that it's not only a musical genre. It's a lifestyle genre. The songs we love tell stories. Many of those stories are of real life struggles about relationships, addiction, insecurity, and family.

Through the pain and the struggle Country Music has always found a way to laugh. We usually make fun of ourselves and our predicament. It's the laughter that often eases the pain enough for us to get back on our feet and take the next step.

One of our greatest comediennes was born on this day in 1912. Her given name was Sarah. To most of us she was Cousin Minnie Pearl. That delightful female cousin that every family had. She was always caught up on family gossip, shopping tips, life lessons, and a genuine true heart.

We came to know Minnie Pearl and her price tagged hat from her appearances on The Grand Ole Opry and TV's Hee Haw. We came to love Minnie because the laughs she shared weren't hateful or hurtful. They were observations of all of us. She told those stories in such a way that we could find ourselves and then laugh out loud.

Minnie Pearl aka Sarah Cannon died March 4th 1996.  Her legacy lives on in the Sarah Cannon Cancer Center that was renamed in her honor.

Tonight as you enjoy the music of Classic Country Saturday Night on 97.3 The Dawg, let us echo Minnie Pearl's most famous words  "Howwwdeee, I'm Just So Proud To Be Here" Because we are in fact very proud to represent the legacy of Minnie Pearl and to honor your requests every Saturday Night.

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