ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Tuesday, March 5, 1996                 TAG: 9603050073
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL   PAGE: A-1  EDITION: METRO 

MINNIE PEARL DIES

LENGTH: Short :   18 lines
ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO:  AP/1990. Minnie Pearl, whose homespun humor, shrill 
          "Howdyyyyy!" and flowered straw hat with its dangling price tag made
          her the first country comedian worldwide, died Monday in Nashville. 
          She had been a Grand Ole Opry performer since 1940. Story on A3. 
          color.