I saw Stan Rogers give a concert (at the Sounding Board in West Hartford, Connecticut), and I still remember his introduction to "Mary Ellen Carter":

When he was young, he saw the Grand Ole Opry (or some such show) and remembers at the end of the show, Tennessee Ernie Ford looking up and staring into the blinding spotlights and singing with earnestness and large voice, a gospel hymn of great inspiration, of triumphing over all odds with the help of the Almighty. He decided then and there that he wanted to write a hymn of great inspiration, except without god in it.

Then he sang "Mary Ellen Carter" to us. (By george, I think he may have succeeded!)

--Charlie Baum