kˈænən ɹᵻsˈiːvd ɐ dᵻɡɹˈiː ɪn pəlˈɪɾɪkəl sˈaɪəns ænd, ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɛvənti sˈɛvən, ɐ lˈɔː dᵻɡɹˈiː fɹʌm bɹˈɪɡæm jˈʌŋ jˌuːnɪvˈɜːsᵻɾi.
Cannon received a degree in political science and, in 1977, a law degree from Brigham Young University.