NASHVILLE, TN (WGNS) – The Tennessee Historical Society and the Tennessee Historical Commission have announced that the 2025 Tennessee History Book Award will go to co‑authors Mary Ellen Pethel and Don Cusic for their new biography, Howdy! The Minnie Pearl Story, published by the University of Tennessee Press. The annual award recognizes outstanding scholarship on Tennessee’s past, and this year’s judges say the winning book stands out for its lively writing, rich imagery, and deep understanding of a beloved state icon.
Two other titles were named finalists: Tennessee Samplers: Female Education and Domestic Arts 1800–1900 by Jennifer C. Core and Janet S. Hasson, and Andrew Jackson: Old Hickory in Christian America by Jonathan M. Atkins. All three books were reviewed by a panel of historians from across Tennessee.
Judges praised Howdy! as the definitive biography of Minnie Pearl, the stage persona of Sarah Cannon, who grew up in Centerville before becoming one of the most recognizable figures in country music. Despite never recording a hit song, Pearl became a national favorite through her comic timing, television presence, and unmistakable charm. The book explores how she navigated gender, class, and cultural expectations in a male‑dominated industry, and how her influence shaped the social and political landscape of country music…