Grady Nutt

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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • http://n/a 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

  • 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!’ “

  • 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

  • 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.

  • 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

  • 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 :)

  • 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.

  • 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!

  • 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!

  • 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!

  • http://thatselbert.wordpress.com thatselbert

    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.

  • http://thatselbert.wordpress.com thatselbert

    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.

  • 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

  • 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.

  • Myrna Moore

    Hi Bruce,
    I am a freelance writer/producer for LIfe With Purpose Radio, a national program sponsored by the Georgia Baptist Convention. I am trying to do a story on Grady Nutt and am trying to track down any of his living relatives. Can you help?
    Thanks,
    Myrna

  • Myrna Moore

    Hi Scott,
    I am a freelance writer/producer for LIfe With Purpose Radio, a national program sponsored by the Georgia Baptist Convention. I am trying to do a story on Grady Nutt and would love to interview you about him.
    Please contact me at
    moremedia3@bellsouth.net
    Thank you

  • sandrakeefer

    i agree I had his tape over 23 years ago and lost it in a fire I want to find it again

  • sandrakeefer

    i agree I had his tape over 23 years ago and lost it in a fire I want to find it again

  • Max Martin

    I too have been so blessed, and made to laugh by this special man of God. I had the opportunity to attend Jacksonville Baptist College with Grady and sing in the college choir with him. He was not only a man who could make people laugh, he also was very talented musically. I never had the opportunity to hear him preach, but I'm sure the Holy Spirit used him tremendously. I agree that his stories and I think his songs need to live on. I do have a cassett tape of some of his Hee Haw stories.

  • Jdheilman

    The whole family was a bunch of Nutts. I knew his dad and mom well, but only met the Rev when I was very young. We gave his family a dog named Lady. His parents often mentioned that dog—and how much Grady and his brother enjoyed it. His parents owned Grady's Hat Shop in Jacksonville for many years. They were super folks and always enjoyed a good laugh.

  • Miklorpet

    We have a couple of his cassettes & would love anything that he ever recorded if it was on CD! or MP3 would be great too! Let us know…miklorpet@earthlink.net

  • Miklorpet

    Wow….I see this post is old…not sure if you will still get this….but yes…let us know, we will get them put online where people can download them!! That would be aweome!! A Grady Nut website!! email us at miklorpet@earthlink.net. Petricks

  • N_f_mom

    Yes, please get this material out!!! His words and humor are still needed!!

  • Diehardtexan55

    I have one of his albums and would love to get a copy of all of them.I have “The Prime Minister of Humor”
    Side 1
    1. Crazy Names
    2. The Balcony Bombardier Brigade
    3. Growing Pains
    4. First Tux
    5. The World’s Greatest Itch

    Side2
    1. Hand Bonin’
    2. Jazz Tiple
    3. Friday Night Flicks
    4. The Tea Totaliers