Tommy Hunter, 'Canada's Country Gentleman,' dies at 89

musicJul 3, 202619520

Tommy Hunter, the London, Ontario native best known as the host of The Tommy Hunter Show, has died at age 89. His business manager, Brian Edwards, said Hunter died of natural causes on Thursday. Hunter hosted the CBC music series The Tommy Hunter Show from 1965 to 1992 and introduced Canadian audiences to artists including Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Alan Jackson, Anne Murray and a young Shania Twain, then performing as Eileen. He won three Juno Awards and one Gemini Award, was inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame and was a member of both the Order of Ontario and the Order of Canada. Hunter is survived by three children, four grandchildren and one great-grandchild. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 3, 2026.

Charlie Angus

@charlieangus104.bsky.social

Tommy Hunter has gone to the angels. He was king of Friday night in so many homes across the county. Tommy was called Canada's "country gentleman" and he lived up to it. RIP and thanks for the music. www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0YT...

19445d ago

100 Percent Canadian 🇨🇦5

My parents and grandparents watched it every week.

Rachel Wales3

That was Canada. Was a great show, think I only had one channel at that time.

Sue D 🇨🇦 🇺🇦3

Our weekends started with Tommy Hunter on Friday and ended Sunday evening after Wonderful World of Disney. RIP sir, you were one of my inspirations. Thank you.

Genwil 🍁3

Loved his show when I was a kid.

Skipper1

Tommy was born in my home town. My mother said that she met him when he was shopping in the grocery store where she was a clerk. 🙂

Bruce Arthur

@brucearthur.bsky.social

We had two channels in my house growing up, and I saw a lot of Tommy Hunter. Rest in peace to a man who seemed really nice

10745d ago

Dale Domshy1

One channel for us for awhile, every Friday night

Jason Schneider Media1

Sad news, but even sadder that he had to suffer through a lot of problems with his family after his TV career was over. Proof that you can't judge a book...

Mark Paul Oleksiw1

The lead in to HNIC. Either that or Wayne and Shuster.

Greg 🇨🇦🥁🎸1

My father in law sold this guy a Mercedes Benz every couple years for decades. I met him a couple times when I worked at the dealership. Decent guy. Amazing hair, VERY big head. Looked immaculate. Very nice man too.

Robert MJ Thompson1

Mr.H. was certainly a calming presence. www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OoT...

Canadian History Ehx

@cdnhistoryehx.bsky.social

Tommy Hunter, Canada’s Country Gentleman, has died. He hosted The Tommy Hunter Show from 1960 to 1992 and gave many early country artists some of their first exposure including Garth Brooks and Shania Twain

5445d ago

Stilldreaming2

Tbh, this was one of those times when I thought he had already passed. Sad, nonetheless. His show was/is one of my first memories of being a newly arrived kid in Canada. He was an icon.

Brenna Collins1

Oh that’s so sad…!!! 😭 My grandmother loved him, so I enjoyed his program every time it aired. She especially loved the Christmas Carol adaptation they did once!

Quoting this

@nsdebbi 🇨🇦4

RIP to a Canadian legend 🙏🏻

CHEK News

@cheknews.ca

Tommy Hunter, a fixture in Canadian living rooms for decades with his long-running CBC TV show, has died. He was 89. https://cheknews.ca/canadian-country-star-tommy-hunter-dies-1333966/

3445d ago

Quoting this

JayIsPainting 🍁9

Very much in the huh, didn't know he hadn't years ago thing but a huge figure in Canadian music.

Bon Hanson

@bonhanson.bsky.social

From 1965 to 1992,Tommy Hunter hosted a weekly variety show. "Canada's Country Gentleman" introduced some of the biggest country artists to Canadians. Tommy passed peacefully at age 89. Thanks for everything you gave to us.💔🇨🇦 www.ctvnews.ca/entertainmen...

2945d ago

Spudislander45 🇨🇦❤️🌎💪🫡1

I remember my parents watching Tommy Hunter. RIP

Jan R 🇨🇦1

When I was a kid we all watched his show every week. Such good memories.

🇨🇦 Bernice Hillier 🇨🇦

@bernicecb.bsky.social

I'm sad to read that Tommy Hunter has died. His show was on in our house every Friday night. My dad loved to see the guests featured on the show, including some big name stars. www.cbc.ca/news/enterta...

3345d ago

THX•1138

@ithx1138.bsky.social

Honouring 🇨🇦TOMMY HUNTER Canada's Country Gentleman March 20 1937-June 2 2026 Farewell Sir, Thank😃You for All those Wonderful performances You Brought SO Many Talented Folks to Everyone A True Canadian🇨🇦, indeed en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommy_H... www.cbc.ca/news/enterta... #LOVE #canada #Country

1544d ago

Geoffrey P Johnston😎🇨🇦🇺🇦

@geoffypjohnston.bsky.social

www.cbc.ca/news/enterta... Tommy Hunter, 'Canada's Country Gentleman,' dead at 89 | CBC News

545d ago

🇨🇦 🦋 🇺🇸

@canada-dry.bsky.social

🍁 RIP Tommy Hunter My grandparents wouldn't miss his show every Friday night... www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0YT...

645d ago

Lounge Lizards 🇨🇦 🍁

@colin-dawny.bsky.social

We've lost a truly great Canadian legend. The Tommy Hunter Show was a mainstay on Sunday nights at our home. Rest Easy Tommy and thanks for the memories.💔😢 www.cbc.ca/news/enterta...

545d ago

Hannah

@hannahr.bsky.social

so Tommy Hunter died and i had no idea he was still alive because back when my grandparents were watching his show, he was the same age i am RIGHT NOW but he looked old then! www.cbc.ca/news/enterta...

745d ago

KTanPot5

The event I'm at is peak Tommy Hunter fandom and we unfortunately all thought he had already passed.

Gina 🫐3

I said to my husband "He was only 89?? I thought he would have been at least 150!"

Lisa2

He's been old forever. I was surprised he was still alive.

Terra 🇨🇦🇺🇦🇵🇸1

I didn’t know he was still alive either, he’s always been old in my memory. Also watched at grandparents house lol, must have been on CBC.

ugly bags of mostly water1

Convo I had last night: Mom “huh. Tommy hunter died. I thought he was already dead?” Me “Tommy Hunter was still alive?!?” That man was old when I was a small child.

Jamie Bradburn

@jbcurio.bsky.social

In memory of the late Tommy Hunter, a groovy late 1960s promo ad for The Tommy Hunter Show set to Buck Owens & His Buckaroos classic instrumental Buckaroo. www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekvs...

545d ago

KTanPot

@ktanpot.bsky.social

The event I'm at is peak Tommy Hunter fandom and we unfortunately all thought he had already passed.

545d ago

Tom Heck

@tomeck.bsky.social

For anyone who remembers, singer and Canadian born entertainer Tommy Hunter passed away at age 89. I grew up watching his show Friday nights. May he Rest In Peace and thank you for all the music

345d ago

Angela

@rouquinne.bsky.social

I *loved* the Tommy Hunter show when I was a kid! My family lived in Toronto briefly from 1964 to 1966 and I remember meeting him on Queen Street at Christmas when mom and Nana took us to see the Eaton's and Simpson's holiday windows. He was VERY tall to 5-year-old me!

445d ago

3 sources

cbc.caTommy Hunter, 'Canada's Country Gentleman,' dead at 89 | CBC News ctvnews.caCanadian country star Tommy Hunter dies winnipegfreepress.comCanadian country star Tommy Hunter dies at 89; hosted long-running TV variety show

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Tommy Hunter, 'Canada's Country Gentleman,' dies at 89

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