Trisha Yearwood’s Childhood Role Model Had a ‘Wicked Sense of Humor’ and ‘A Good Eye For a Handsome Man’

Trisha Yearwood has endeared herself to fans by her willingness to be an open book. This includes information about the people and places that have influenced her both personally and professionally. She has used this tactic to create a homey atmosphere on her Food Network show Trisha’s Southern Kitchen. There, she speaks lovingly of those family members and friends whose profound impact on her life continues today. This included one childhood role model with two hilarious attributes.

Who had the most influence on Trisha Yearwood?

Yearwood has said on multiple occasions that three women, in particular, have had the most influence on her as childhood role models.

These include her two grandmothers: Grandma Yearwood and Grandma Paull, and her mother, Gwen.

Both of Yearwood’s grandmothers influenced her to explore her innate love of cooking. Today, she honors these women by recreating their recipes on Trisha’s Southern Kitchen.

Gwen died of breast cancer in 2011. Yearwood once spoke of her mother’s influence in an interview with Great American Country.

“I’m very lucky. I’m one of those kids who has a mom who everybody loves. So when my mom comes to Oklahoma and visits, and she’s gone, everybody’s like, ‘When’s your mom coming back?'” she said.

Her childhood role model was very influential

Yearwood admitted that there was one other woman who also holds a special place in her heart.

In an interview with Good Housekeeping, the country superstar claimed that one of her “favorite community watchdogs” was Miss Betty J. Maxwell, a childhood role model to the singer.

“Miss Betty was a role model for me — a confident, independent woman,” Yearwood explained of her friend.

“She never married, traveled the world, was even the mayor of Monticello for a time, and had a wicked sense of humor that she carried with her all of her 77 years,” the country superstar recalled.

“When she met my husband, Garth, she still had a good eye for a handsome man. After he gave her a big hug, she looked as if she’d fallen in love. I expected her to tell me what a nice young man he was, but all she said was, ‘Patricia! You didn’t tell me he had such a good body!’ I still smile when I remember that,” Yearwood stated.

Yearwood recalled her small-town roots

Yearwood noted that growing up in a small town had both its advantages and disadvantages.

She recalled her roots to Good Housekeeping.

“When you grow up in a small town as I did (Monticello, GA — population 2,500, give or take a few), you end up being raised not only by your parents but by the whole community,” she explained.

“I don’t know if I was a good kid by nature or if I was well-behaved because I realized that if I did something wrong, my parents would probably know about it before I got home,” Yearwood joked.

Trisha’s Southern Kitchen airs Saturdays at noon on Food Network.