R.I.P. Tommy Hunter
Tommy by Tommy Hunter (1975)
“Canada’s Country Gentleman” Tommy Hunter had passed away on July 2, 2026, at the age of 89, of natural causes. Hunter was the beloved host of The Tommy Hunter Show that helped bring in country music to millions of homes in Canada. The show ran for 27 years, starting in 1965 and ending in 1992. He was so popular that he has his own Canadian postage stamp, much like the American postage stamp of Elvis Presley (issued in 1993).
Brian Edwards, longtime business manager for The Tommy Hunter Show had this to day about his friend:
Tommy lived and worked with grace, humility, and deep respect for the audiences who welcomed him into their homes for thirty-six consecutive years. He loved country music and all his loyal fans across Canada and the United States. He never once took for granted the generations of families who made him part of their lives.
Hunter’s career in country music television began in 1956 when he joined Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s Country Hoedown as a cast member. He worked with Canadian Talent Library to release a self-titled album in 1964, and by 1965, he was rewarded with his television show, The Tommy Hunter Show.
Tommy Hunter released three albums on Columbia Records: Travelling With Tommy Hunter (1967), Tommy Hunter (1968), and Time Slips Away (1971). He would later sign with RCA Victor, Acclaim (Canada), and Edith Records.
After The Tommy Hunter Show ended in 1992, Hunter continued performing live across Canada. His final concert was on his 75th birthday in 2012.
Tommy Hunter is survived by his three children, four grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Rest in peace.
Read more Musicians and singers who died.
