'HOW-DEE!'

Today would have been the 99th birthday of comedienne and "Grand Ole Opry" star Minnie Pearl, born Sarah Ophelia Colley in Centerville, Tenn., which is also the hometown of Shopper-News coworkers and sisters Carol Springer and Judy Tharpe.

Reportedly, her "Minnie Pearl" character was based on a real woman she met while touring in Alabama.

Here is a collection of "Howdys!" to remember Miss Minnie on her birthday.