Grand Ladies of Country: How Sweet It Is!

The “Grand Ladies of Country,” appearing at the 76 Mall Theatre, is one of Branson’s best kept secrets. A review of the show earlier in the year found the show had more music, ounce for ounce and pound for pound, than nearly any other show in Branson. That has not changed.

I had reviewed Mary Lou Turner earlier in the year as well and she just keeps getting better and better. Mary Lou won Vocalist Duo of the Year with Bill Anderson, two years running, 1976 and 1977. This Hazard, Ky. native has also appeared on the Grand Old Opry. Mary Lou sounded better than ever and this time she joined Leona Williams, another grand star, to turn out entertainment that takes a back seat to no one. The duo, singing singles as well as duets, teamed with Beverly Cotton Dillard, a banjo player and singer, to create some of the finest music this side of Toad Hollow.

Beverly Cotton Dillard is married to Rodney Dillard, one of the ‘Darlings’ on the Andy Griffith Show. Beverly has appeared on Hee Haw and can stand up to anyone alive on the banjo. Beverly acts as emcee and does a couple of skits with members of the “Ladies Men Band.” One stage lithograph of American life tells the tide of events in the mountains, another is based on the Andy Griffith Show, and the last is a vocal panorama taken straight from O Brother Where Art Thou. All these scenes of Americana are a lot of fun to watch and hear because Beverly and the boys take so much delight doing them.

Leona Williams, Vienna, Missouri’s favorite daughter, was striking as she and Mary Lou Turner sang song after song during the show. These gals have a lot of stamina, energy and enjoy what they do.

It has been quoted of Picasso that if his oils were taken from him he would go to watercolors. If his watercolors were to be taken from him, he would pick up a pencil. If the pencil were to be taken from him, he would wet his finger and make outlines on a dry surface. Mary Lou Turner, Beverly Dillard and Leona Williams are exactly like that. They all love to entertain and if you were to take first the stage, then the theater, plus street corners, cafes, nightclubs and so on, away from them, I would imagine they would most likely be in a park somewhere, playing, singing and smiling for whom-ever they could find.

Editor’s Note: The Grand Ladies of Country are currently appearing at the 76 Mall Theatre, Monday through Saturday at 3:30 and 8:00 PM. Starting in 2003 they will be appearing at the Jim Stafford Theatre in a “new” show entitled “Us Girls! For show information and tickets, toll free, call Ozark Ticket and Travel at 1-888-493-1222.