The 10 best quotes from 'Little' Jimmy Dickens' funeral

"Everybody likes me," country singer "Little" Jimmy Dickens once told his friend Scott Hamilton. "I have no enemies." Neither the Olympic gold-medal figure skater nor anyone else at the Grand Ole Opry House Thursday would have disagreed.

Nashville bid farewell Thursday to the 4'11" entertainer, who died Jan. 2 at age 94, with an emotional memorial service that included performances by Brad Paisley, Steve Wariner, Chris Young, Connie Smith and Vince Gill and Carrie Underwood.

Everybody had stories and wonderful things to say about Dickens, who, as Grand Ole Opry announcer Eddie Stubbs reminded attendees, had a life that encompassed the entire history of country music. These were some of the best moments:

• "He was exactly the size we needed him to be. I, for one, don't want to live in a world of 'Big' Jim Dickens." — Brad Paisley


• "When he came out on this stage or any stage, he didn't come out to go over, he came out to take over. And he did it each and every time." — Eddie Stubbs


• "He was the total package and then some — a hilarious comedian, a trailblazing energetic pioneer, a heart-wrenching balladeer." — Opry general manager Pete Fisher


• "He out-fished me. And I can't say that about a whole lot of people." — Chris Young


• "I felt a kinship to him, probably because we're both of average height. ... Also maybe because I made a living just like he did, performing in a lot of beads and spangles." — Scott Hamilton


• "Jimmy Dickens was the essence of country music and the heart of the Grand Ole Opry." — Connie Smith


• "When you're 12 or 13, being able to tell somebody, 'May the bird of paradise fly up your nose' is a rare gift." — Pastor Mike Glenn, making a reference to Dickens' 1965 No. 1 country hit, May the Bird of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose


• "Let's be honest: All of us have a long list of people that, if Jesus needs to take somebody, we'll suggest a few. Jimmy wasn't on my list. Nor was he on yours." — Pastor Mike Glenn


• "I called my mom, and I was so excited. I was telling her, 'I'm going to be on the Grand Ole Opry! This is crazy!' And she told me, 'Watch out for Jimmy Dickens, because he likes the pretty girls." — Carrie Underwood, on the advice her mother gave her before she played the Opry for the first time


• "What I loved most about Jimmy was how kind and welcoming he was [to] every young turk who came through these doors with a song in their hearts. ... He got to see all of us come and go." — Vince Gill