‘Hee Haw’ star to visit Champaign County: 5 facts about the classic show

A star of the hit television show, “Hee Haw” will come to Mechanicsburg in Champaign County this week. Lulu Roman, a comedian and regular cast member of the TV show, will debut a new book and perform a live concert at Oak Grove Church of Christ in Christian Union, located at 11160 Rosedale Rd., at 6 p.m.  Saturday. The event is free. Offerings will be accepted.

Before you attend Roman’s visit, here are five things you should know about the classic CBS television show, “Hee Haw’’:

It turns 50 years old this year.

“Hee Haw” first aired on the CBS Television Network on June 15, 1969 to replace “The Smother Brothers Comedy Hour,” according to the television show’s official website. The show screened on American televisions for over 20 years, airing through Dec. 27, 1997. During its run, 585 episodes were filmed.

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Many celebrities started their careers on the show.

Besides Lulu Roman, other stars including Junior Samples, the Hager Twins, Buck Owens, and Roy Clark rose to fame through their appearances on “Hee Haw.”

Some of country music’s most well-known stars performed on the show.

“Hee Haw” featured some of country music’s most celebrated artists, including Loretta Lynn, Charley Pride, George Jones, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Dolly Parton, Hank Williams, Jr., Tammy Wynette and Merle Haggard, according to RFD-TV’s website. RFD-TV airs reruns of the show.

Its cultural impact is still felt to this day.

Skits from “Hee Haw” have been referenced in David Letterman’s “Top 10” and Jay Leno’s opening monologue, the show’s website says. In addition, records of “Hee Haw” are kept in the archives of museums across the country, including the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville,  the Museum of Broadcast Communications in Chicago, and the Paley Center for Media in New York.

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Re-runs of “Hee Haw” air weekly.

Re-runs of “Hee Haw” air weekly on RFD-TV, a 24-hour television network owned by Rural Media Group Inc. The network features programs focused on agribusiness, equine and rural lifestyle, traditional country music, and entertainment, according to Rural Media Group’s website.

"Hee Haw" airs at 8 p.m. Sundays. ET, 7 p.m. CT, 6 p.m. MT, and 5 p.m. PT

RFD-TV is available on cable and streaming services through multiple service providers including DISH, DIRECTV, AT&T U-Verse, Charter Spectrum, Cox, Comcast, Mediacom, and Suddenlink. It can also be streamed online through The Country Club at rfdcc.com, DIRECTV NOW, Roku, and Sling TV's Heartland Extra package.

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