* 7.11.1914 Bull's Gap, Tennessee ED - † 29.8.1987

Achie Campbell was a popular country comedian before joining TV's Hee Haw when it debuted on CBS in 1968, but that show made him a household name far beyond Nashville. He'd worked in comedy from the late 1930's on WNOX Radio in Knoxville, the same station that starled Chet Atkins, Homer and Jethro and Don Gibson, where his rendition of the elderly character "Grandpappy" made him a local star. He worked with Bill Carlisle's group by the early 1940's (Atkins became the group's fiddler). After Navy service in Florida during World War II, Campbell returned to WNOX, and by 1952 hosted his own TV show over WATE in Knoxville. That show ended in 1958 when he joined the Opry's Prince Albert Show and signed with RCA (he also briefly recorded for Starday). His word-twisting routines like "RinderceIla" the Cinderella story) made him a favorite. He and singer Lorene Mann made some vocal recordings as well, including, oddly enough, late 60's rhythm and blues hits like "Dark End of the Street" and "Tell It Like It Is."

A charter member of the Hee Haw cast, he was head writer and performed as various characters. After The Nashville Network began, he hosted a historical series, Yesteryear in Nashville, in addition to his Hee Haw duties. He had various business interests, but continued on the show until his 1987 death from a heart attack.