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Guy Hovis, the beloved singer best known for his many appearances on “The Lawrence Welk Show,” has died. He was 84.
Ralna English, who was married to Hovis from 1969 to 1984 and often performed alongside him on the hit ABC and KTLA musical variety show, announced the devastating news in an emotional Facebook post on Friday.
She revealed that Hovis died on Thursday, Jan. 22, after spending the last few weeks in the hospital. No cause of death has been revealed.
“As it has for me, this will come as a shock to many of you,” English, 83, began. “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,” she continued. “Needless to say, at this time we are all devastated and simply trying to cope with this tragic news.”
English went on to thank Hovis’ countless fans for their prayers and support for the late singer’s family.
The Lennon Sisters, who also performed regularly on “The Lawrence Welk Show” during its more than 30-year run from 1951 to 1982, remembered Hovis with a touching Facebook post of their own in the wake of his death.
“We were so shocked and sad to hear from Ralna, that Guy Hovis passed away yesterday,” they wrote alongside several clips of Hovis playing guitar around a fire. “First, he was a very very dear friend…an amazing talented singer with a voice that was beyond perfection.”
“A very kind true loyal friend…And handsome on top of all that,” the iconic vocal group added. “He will be truly missed and forever in our hearts.”
Hovis and English first performed together during a Christmas episode of “The Lawrence Welk Show” in 1969.
Although English was already there singing solo, the husband-wife pair ended up performing together. Their duet was said to be such a hit that Welk invited them back to his show time and time again.
Welk, who was not just a TV host but also an accordionist, bandleader and pioneer of what’s become known as Champagne music, passed away in 1992 at the age of 89.
“He got a ton of mail. He’d never had a husband/wife team on his show,” Hovis told WTVA back in 2024. “So after, he tried to have me back one more time, just to make sure the mail wasn’t a fluke.”
“He got the same amount of mail, so he asked me to join the show with [English], sing with her,” the late icon added at the time. “In February of 1970, Guy and Ralna started their 12 years on the regular show.”
Although Hovis and English divorced in 1984 after 15 years of marriage, they remained close and continued performing together.
“Guy and I have a ball working together,” English told the New Hampshire Union Leader in 2012. “We just love being on stage performing together.”
Born Guy Lee Hovis, Jr. in Tupelo, Mississippi, in 1941, Hovis started his musical career by singing in church at the age of 5.
He went on to record 15 albums and, after returning to his native Mississippi in 1990, served as state director for former US Senator Trent Lott until 2007.
Hovis also sang “Let the Eagle Soar” at George W. Bush’s presidential inauguration in 2005.