Dixie Carter

She was born into a middle class family on May 25, 1939 in McLemoresville, Tennessee. Her father owned and ran several small retail stores. By the age of four she declared her intentions to sing at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City but three years later, a poorly performed tonsillectomy damaged her vocal cords and the threatened the dream. The self-confident little belle merely doubled down in determination, continuing to sing and study classical music, learning a number of instruments including the piano and the harmonica.

After graduating from Memphis State, Dixie moved to New York and quickly snagged a role in a production by famed director Joseph Papp’s, Shakespeare’s “A Winter’s Tale.” A number of roles and more than a decade later, Dixie took an 8 year hiatus from show business to raise two young daughters by her first husband, Arthur Carter. Her return to acting at the age of 35 wasn’t easy, but Dixie again rose to the challenge.

This accomplished singer, actress and writer accumulated a host of stage and screen credits before passing away in Houston, TX on April 10th, 2010, but it was her role as the soft spoken yet out-spoken, classy but sassy, Julia Sugarbaker on the comedy hit, Designing Women that secured Dixie Virginia Carter a place in television history.
I once caught an interview with Ms. Carter on the Bill O’Reily show in which Miss Carter was expressing her desire to see the popular show reborn. She felt sure the magic was still there.

“Maybe”, Bill O’Reilly countered, “but wouldn’t it have to be blunter and sexier for today’s audience?”

It was the late Ms. Carter’s answer that brings her to our Southern Quote today. For in her inimitable way Dixie Carter said…

“I believe if something is good, Bill O’Reilly, I believe if something is good, you can do things with words and lift yourselves out of the gutter…”

Well said, Dixie Carter. Well said!

Hugs,
Shellie