Guy Hovis, a prolific member of the music world who starred as a singer on “Lawrence Welk” from 1970 to 1982, has died at 84, TMZ says his daughter, Julie, has confirmed.
According to the report, she revealed that he died in Oxford, Mississippi after being hospitalized for around two weeks with a “lingering, undisclosed illness.”
Hovis’ costar Ralna English, to whom he was married from 1969 to 1984, shared an emotional reaction to the news on Facebook. She wrote, “As it has for me, this will come as a shock to many of you. Guy has been in the hospital for several weeks. I spoke briefly with him on Monday and was deeply concerned. He took a turn for the worse and it hurts me to tell you , but he died peacefully last night. Needless to say, at this time we are all devastated and simply trying to cope with this tragic news. Thank you for your prayers for Julie and Sis and Guys entire family.”
Guy Hovis Previously Discussed What Made ‘Lawrence Welk’ Special
In a “Backstage With the Welk Stars” segment many years before his death, Hovis shared his feelings about his famous “Lawrence Welk” gig. He said, “I love this show.” He also praised the lyrical abilities of Johnny Mercer, a musician who wrote many of the hits that were performed on the program.
“I always thought he was one of the most clever lyricists that ever wrote. You know, writing things from ‘Moon River’ to ‘I’m An Old Cowhand.’ He was a great lyricist and I’ve always admired his work, so I’ve enjoyed the show.”
Mercer co-wrote “Moon River” with Henry Mancini for “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” and the song was later famously covered by Beyoncé in 2021.
Hovis, who served as the state director for former U.S. Senator Trent Lott in Mississippi from 1990 to 2007, then talked about how he made the jump from singing on television to diving into politics. He explained, “It wasn’t easy. I moved back to Mississippi about a year after my old friend Trent Lott had gotten elected to the United States senate. I’d always participated in his campaigns. He just out of the blue called me one day and said, ‘Hey, I need somebody to supervise my state offices.'”
Hovis says he told his friend, “I don’t know anything about politics, I’ve been in show business for 20 years.” He said Lott assured him, “You’ll do fine.”
Guy Hovis Performed at George W. Bush Inauguration
Back in 2004, Hovis was onhand at the second inauguration of former president George W. Bush to perform “Let the Eagle Soar.”
The song was penned by former U.S. attorney general John Ashcroft, who performed it a few times himself, most famously at the 10th-anniversary celebration at the Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in Charlotte, North Carolina, on February 23, 2002.
