Grady Nutt

Posted by John
July 21, 2004

One of our area ministers stopped by the newspaper today, and when he mentioned something about pastors being only human I immediately thought of a quote by the late Grady Nutt.

That led me to reminisce about Grady Nutt, and to look and see if any of his old albums had been rereleased on CD. I couldn’t find any, and that saddens me to no end. If I could find a copy of whatever album “The Tea Totallers” appeared on, I would buy it in a heartbeat.

The Rev. Grady Nutt was a Southern Baptist preacher who became a standup comedian, with his faith, his family and his occupation as his subject matter. For a while, he was a regular on “Hee Haw” (he was unpretentious enough to appear on “Hee Haw,” but don’t let that scare you off). He talked about how pastors were only human; that was the quote that came up this morning. Grady said that when a pastor hits his thumb with a hammer, he does not say “Verily and behold, I have slammed it.”

Grady even made a TV situation comedy pilot about life as a pastor. It wasn’t picked up and was burned off one summer during the 1970s as a special. Grady died, much too young, in an airplane crash.

The story “The Tea Totallers” takes a long time to tell and only Grady could do it justice. But it has to do with a minister’s family which is hosting the family of a visiting evangelist for lunch. One of the children spills a glass of iced tea all over the tablecloth, and the mother — who has been slaving away to make everything spotless and perfect for the special guests — begins to tremble as if she’s about to have an apoplectic fit. The father, however, stares her down until he has her full attention — and then reaches out and intentionally knocks over his own glass. Pretty soon, everyone at the table, including the mother and the bewildered visitng pastor, is gleefully knocking over tea glasses. It’s a perfect Mary-and-Martha parable about what’s really important in life, as opposed to the details about which we often obsess.

Even funnier are stories that I recall about Grady being forced to counsel a grieving widow in the only unoccupied room in her house — the bathroom — and about a baptism by immersion gone terribly awry.

Someone please, please get this man’s material onto CD. The world still needs him.

Faith, Grady Nutt, Popular culture

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  • KEVIN JONES
    I saw some tapes on a website called justcleanfun.com that said they had Grady Nutt on them
  • Bruce Paulk
    I was a friend of Grady's, but of course, everyone who met him was his friend. I was a member of the Sunday School class that he and his wife Elenor taught and I have many fond memories of his humor and wisdom. He truly was a man of God and a man of humor. There were countless times I can recall being in his home, sitting around drinking "40 weight tea. If your car runs out of oil, just pour some of this in." I used to have several recordings of Grady's, but unfortunately time and many playbacks took their toll on them. I would be very interested as well in finding some more of Grady's material.

    God bless you, Grady. You are sorely missed.
  • Lynn Siedelmann
    I, too, have been looking for the great Grady Nutt tapes. Oh, boy! how I have been looking for those tapes. I had them all but cannot find them anywhere. Now I am looking all over the internet for them. I absolutely loved even work that man said. I even have one of his quotes cross-stitched on a sampler. "Laughter is the Hand of God on the shoulder of a troubled world"
    If you find any tapes would you PLEASE let me know where to find them?
  • Todd A Thompson
    I, too, am a Grady Nutt nut! His LPs and tapes do come up occasionally on EBAY. I have amassed what I believe to be an almost complete library via patience (my in-laws went to Baylor with Grady and they have the LP that I'm missing...I'm hoping to be remembered in the will!)
    Rich Diesslin has a very nice tribute (with sound bytes) on his website: www.the-cartoonist.com He has shared some things that were never actually published.
    Oh yeah, "Tea-totallers" is on the LP "Taking Notice."
  • Bill Anderson
    I met Grady Nutt in the fall of 1971 in Hattisburg, Mississippi when he spoke at a youth group and it was one of the most enjoyable evenings I ever had. I have often thought about him since that time and I have always wanted some of his recordings but could never find any. I never wached HeeHaw but one night I happend to have it on and saw Grady on it. I was so excited to have finally found him, but just my luck, he died in the accident the very next week and I was so sad to learn of his death. I will keep watching on ebay and on the internet and hope I can find some of his recordings. I would appreciate any help I can get from anyone who reads this.
  • scott rickman
    I am a first cousin of Grady's and was telling some stories of Grady to my 14 year old sons. Unfortunately, I don't have any recordings of Grady's to share with them. If anyone has a recording or printed version of "Beepin' Sleauty", I would love to get a copy of it. It is so good to see that Grady is not forgotten.
  • Thank you Todd for noticing my tribute to Grady Nutt. The "Tea-totallers" is a story about Albert Young and is currently on my tributes page (free download). It's 12 Meg MP3 though, so have a high-speed connection! And I whole-heartedly agree with this statement from above "Someone please, please get this man’s material onto CD. The world still needs him." His wit and wisdom is too precious to lose!
  • BTW - Scott, as a first cousin, I think you could probably talk Toby Nutt, Grady's youngest son out of some copies of Grady's recordings. There was a time when I thought he might publish a collection. I haven't heard anything on that for a while, so who knows if it will happen. It's a shame if it doesn't!
  • Go here:
    http://www.the-cartoonist.com/
    ...there's a lot of Grady to download!
  • sorry...
    more specifically, it's here:
    http://members.aol.com/rldes/private/Nutt/Nutt....
  • Vince Herzog
    You can reach Toby at the address below.

    toby.nutt@cbandt.com
  • D. Farmer
    I remember getting to see Grady Nutt many years ago at 4-H Junior Leader Camp at Purdue University in Indiana. I was also wondering if any of his stand-up routines were every recorded or filmed. Who would hold the copies of his records besides family members? I will try the sons e-mail. Thanks
  • John Hewett
    I had been a fan of Grady's before I became his friend. He had an enormous influence on me. I pastored the Graefenburg Baptist Church in Kentucky about 15 years after he did, and on several occasions we would co-officiate at funerals. I've sat at his table and spent the night in his home. He was one of the most brilliant, creative, and truly original thinkers I've ever known. The Thanksgiving weekend in 1982 remains etched in my memory for the sadness of his passing. I still have the note his family sent to friends after his death. "Today we are thankful for friends who are family, and family who are friends."

    I can't wait to get to Heaven so I can get a Gradyhug and feel blessed the way only he could bless.
  • S. Polk
    I have two albums of Grady Nutt in good condition. One is The Flip Side of Grady Nutt. (Tiple Ventures) Has a pic on the album cover on the back of him with Mike Douglas (recently passed away) and Bobby Gentry. The other is A Laugh and A Half.(RiverSong) Has a Riversong review card in it to become a charter member. I have never listened to them. They used to be my mother and father in laws. Was going through all my albums,loads of them and came across them. This is the first I ever heard of him.
  • S. Polk
    I forgot to add that I was doing some research on Grady Nutt and that is how I came across this web site. I am going to listen tomorrow to these albums now. I also wanted to mention..my inlaws were Baptists from Washington State.
  • Burt Burkett
    I knew Grady at Baylor. We roomed together in Martin Hall his senior year. I also knew sweet Eleanor. He was completely nutts over her. Every night he'd come in simply stupified by her beauty, personality, sweetness, etc. Our other roommate, Donnell Berry, and I listened patiently as he raved. They were very much in love.

    Grady paid me a visit shortly before his tragic accident. I was employed in a bank in Corpus Christi and he had a gig at First Baptist Church. We sat in the coffee shop and literally laughed for 3 solid hours before he had to leave for his meeting.

    Grady never had a down day that I can remember. He was constantly in motion, early morning 'til late, late night. I never saw him study or even crack a book. He was a Baylor Yell Leader that year and was everywhere at once. A tremendous talent, thoroughly dedicated to his calling and so much in love with Eleanor. I remeber that when he really liked someone he would always say "He/She is the craziest guy/girl/"

    I still miss him and think of him often.
  • Arlene Carey
    I gave one of Rev. Nutt's recordings to my parents and they truly enjoyed it - we had to clear out their home a few weeks ago and my daughter saw the album and took it with her. It has the story on it about the counseling the young widow - the funeral where I think it was Grady's buddy -"C.T." slid in the grave because of the amount of rain - and also how they "terrorized" their choir leader by thumbing through the church hymnals and finding hymn titles and passing the hymnals back and forth. My daughter and I were just looking to see if we could find the recordings on a CD.

    The Reverend Nutt is still missed by all who ever heard him in person or on the airwaves or television.
  • Getchen Martin
    I see I am not alone. My father gave me "Taking Notice" by Grady so long ago. I do not even own a record player now...just cd players. I am searching for any CD's that have been released; obviously many more of you are as well. If anyone finds a site or knows of anyone who might know how to go from LP to CD I would love to know. I have many friends who would benefit from his love of God thru humor.
  • Glad to find I'm not alone in remembering Grady. I'm really glad he won't be forgotten.
  • Ben
    I've acquired most of Grady's albums and digitized them. I will be happy to share them with someone who has the ability to put them up online - at least until the copyright holder reveals himself or herself.
  • Paul Anderson
    Just wanted to chime in and let everyone know that reading the comments about Grady Nut has uplifted me. Each time I see the title of one of his stories that I heard on 8 track tapes as a teenager it brings that story back to life for me and once again I laugh at the memories of it. I have been LONG searching for Grady's ministry on CD and am thankful that I stumbled across this website. I am looking forward to searching the websites mentioned in the entries of Jan. 2006. Should any of you convince the "Powers to be" to get Grady re-released on CD, PLEASE let me know where I will be able to get them. He truly is loved and missed by those he touched with his God given ministry. I also echo the anticipation of meeting him face to face in Heaven soon. I can imagine him as someone Jesus turns to when He needs a laugh. Grady, you are deeply missed.

    May the Lord richly Bless you and your families!
  • Susan
    I was born in 81, and am one of the few people my age who knows who Grady Nutt is. I have family in Waco, and have grown up around Amarillo. A few years back my father copied on of his LPs to cd, and as soon as I got an ipod, I put it on there. I keep looking online hoping that if they haven't come out w/ cds to buy, then maybe someone would make a site where you can download the albums to listen to. I'd really appreciate this.
  • Princie King Evans
    I was also a friend of Grady's. My family and I got to know him and his family through the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. We loved them all. I would so love to have news of Eleanor and the boys. I also want to have all of Grady's material that has been recored. I had one album but loaned it to a fried many years ago and have not seen it since. I have his books and using part of The Gospel According To Norton in my Sunday School lesson yesterday made me remember to "Google" Grady again and see what I could find. This site didn't come up last time I "Googled" him but sure glad it did this time. Thinking of Grady gives me that "warm spot" he so often talked about. I think I would give just about anything to get a collection of Grady's work on album and tv. I mostly want to share him with others. I am a high school teacher and I think my students today would love him as much as I did as a teenager and young adult! SOMEONE, please get his material out there for today's young people!!!!!!!! Thanks for the info!!!!!! Princie King Evans
  • Renee Shelton Spahr
    My grandfather, and Grady's father were brothers, so needless to say, I have plenty of memories of growing up with family re-unions featuring the whole Nutt clan. The stories they entertained with were side-splitting funny. The stories Grady used in his sermons are mostly true I remember a couple events happening in real life (shhhh)
    The whole family was blessed with the gift of laughter and I hope that special blessing has been passed down to my children and grandchildren. Someday I would love to write a book about those stories shared around the huge dinning table with everyone trying to get a word in edgewise.
  • Leigh Green
    Please restore Grady Nutt's recordings to CD's or better yet, to DVD's. The world who is not familiar with this minister/humorist, doesn't know what they are missing.

    We need more humor in this world. Especially, Clean, Christian humor!

    Please. Thank you.

    Sincerely, Leigh Green
  • Rick
    My favorite album of his was "Grady Nutt: Humorist." He played his famous "tipple" (sp?) and told a humorous, but powerful, story of Jesus and the Woman at the Well.
    I will never forget his line about our misconceptions of Jesus.
    "Most people think Jesus walked around in a brown corderoy robe he got on sale at Sears talking old english: 'Good morning unto thee, how art thou!' "
  • Leesa
    Amen! We need the joy in Christ that Grady Nutt embodied. We learn best what we see in others and that which has an emotional element. With Grady the laughter was heartfelt and never mean. What lessons he taught and lived!
    I am another one who would love to be able to hear all those great stories again. My "copy of a copy" cassette is incomplete and almost worn out. I'll be in line for the whole shebang if it is produced.
    Leesa
  • Jville
    Grady Nutt really brings back memories. I lived in Jacksonville Texas for a while, and I knew his brother--who was even funnier than Grady! I got to hear all the stories Grady wouldn't tell about things they used to do as kids (talk about shhhhh!).

    Grady made regular appearances back in his hometown, and a local radio station used to carry them live. I wish like the dickens that I'd recorded some of them, because they were hilarious, especially when he talked about the teachers he had in the late 40s/early 50s--who were (or soon would be) MY teachers 30 years later.

    It's possible that some of those broadcasts may be archived somewhere in Jacksonville. The company that owned the station was Waller Broadcasting. No guarantees on finding anything, but worth looking into for anyone trying to track down some unique recordings.
  • Todd
    I might be able to host a site where we could share mp3's of Grady Nutt. Ben, I noticed you said you have them - send me an email if you're still interested to provided this service (and if we're sure we're not violating the wishes of the family or the publishers ;)

    Thanks,
    Todd
  • Ramona Cape
    I myself had some tapes growing up in Altus, Ok. We have listened til you can't any more. I would love to see or better yet hear his words stories again. My favorite was "When the Roll is called up yander." I love the way he would laugh at his own stories. My Uncle was a Methodist Minister in Kentucky. He would tell some great stories. I can see them two in Heaven having the best time swapping stories :)
  • Betty
    I came across the book "Agaperos" by Grady Nutt today. I purchased the book and a tape during a youth conference in Charlotte, NC probably about a year or so before he died. I realized while reading the book that I didn't really "get" it when reading the book as a young person and a young Christian, but reading it today has made me crave more of his work. I did however get his humor and am now going to tear up my house looking for the tape. I know I still have it because I never throw away anything. I would really like to see his work on CD and DVD. I will add this site to my favorites and check it on a regular basis for more recent sightings of Grady. Thanks to all of you who have posted. Reading your thoughts and memories of Grady has brought back to my mind a part of my life I needed to remember. Blessings to the family.
  • Lonnie Massey
    I have all four of Grady's books. I first heard him as a teenager at the Baptist conference center at Glorieta, NM in the early 70s. He spoke in chapel at Wayland Baptist College (now University) my freshman year. That night he was at the student union and in a very informal setting, told stories for hours. We were all in stitches the entire time. He was an incredibly gifted person!
  • Jane
    As a kid we had a cassette tape of Grady's "All Day Singin' and Dinner on the Ground". It was a family favorite and was worn to a frazzle by constant playing.

    My family still quotes lines from that album some 25+ years later.

    I would love to get my hands on any of his recordings!
  • I've got several of Grady Nutt's records and a 45. Moving them to digital or mp3 has proven to be very difficult. I don't have a preamp so I can run the record player directly into my computer. Can anyone help me out? Thanks.
  • Melanie
    I can still remember having one of his recordings. I really wish I had it now. He was absolutely hysterical. I loved the story of him and his friends driving across Texas.
  • Tom
    would love a chance to get a digital copy of Grady's comedy albums
  • Paul
    I also met Grady. I have several of his albums. The album that he did with the Kingsmen I had the privilege of being in the audiennce when it was recorded. I wanted to know how many albums he recorded. Someone let me know.
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