On Nov. 10, 1973, Tex Ritter stood on the Ryman Auditorium stage and brought David "Stringbean" Akeman to the "Grand Ole Opry." "Stringbean, like Grandpa Jones, since the 'Hee Haw' shows is playing a ...

Akeman was born in Jackson County, Ky., in 1915, and he grew up listening to the Grand Ole Opry, the Nashville radio program that featured country musicians like Uncle Dave Macon, who would become ...

Gailard Sartain, known for his roles in “Hee Haw” and “Fried Green Tomatoes,” died at the age of 78. The Tulsa World first reported the news. Teresa Knox, CEO of The Church Studio in Tulsa, told TMZ ...

Fans of the 1970s hit sketch musical show Hee Haw lost a favorite. Gailard Sartain passed away. The Church Studio shared the news in a Facebook post. “We are saddened by the loss of Gailard Sartain, ...

Gailard Sartain, the beloved character actor known for his comedic flair on Hee Haw and memorable performances in films like Fried Green Tomatoes and Mississippi Burning, has passed away . He was 78.

Editor's note: Peter Cooper's reporting on the 1973 killing of David "Stringbean" Akeman and his wife, Estelle, is being republished on the fiftieth anniversary of their deaths. On Nov. 10, 1973, Tex ...