Roy Clark, Country Music Star and ‘Hee Haw’ Host, Dies at 85

Country Music Hall of Fame member and TV host Roy Clark died Thursday at his home in Tulsa, Oklahoma, due to complications from pneumonia, his publicist confirmed. He was 85 years old. The guitar virtuoso is best known for his 24 years as the co-host of “Hee Haw,” a country music and comedy show, alongside musician Buck Owens. Clark mastered several instruments—including the guitar, banjo, fiddle, mandolin, and harmonica—and became well-known for hits like “Yesterday When I was Young” and “Honeymoon Feeling.” His talent brought him gigs as a guest performer on “The Tonight Show” and with many top orchestras, including the Boston Pops. In 1976, the country music star headlined a tour in the Soviet Union, breaking boundaries that were usually closed to Americans.