Movies

Lulu Roman, ‘Hee Haw’ comedian who became a gospel singer after trading drugs for God, dies at 78

BBG News

Comedian and former gospel singer Lulu Roman, best known for her work on “Hee Haw,” passed away at the age of 78 in Bellingham, Washington. This information was confirmed by her son, Damon Roman, to the Hollywood Reporter.

On Wednesday evening, it was announced that the singer known for “On the Battlefield” passed away. As reported by The Times, she had lived in Mount Juliet, Tennessee for a significant amount of time, but at the time of her death, she resided with her son in Washington state.

Obituaries

John Aylesworth dies at 81; co-creator of TV’s ‘Hee Haw’

Aylesworth and his collaborator, Frank Peppiatt, had an idea to develop a program that merged elements of ‘Laugh-In’ and ‘The Beverly Hillbillies.’ This show served as a summer substitute on CBS in 1969 and continued airing in syndication until 1993.

For more than 40 years, Lulu Roman has been a cherished friend of mine, Ricky Skaggs shared on X (previously Twitter) yesterday. “We adored her. She was incredibly gifted. An exceptional performer, a magnificent vocalist, and an outstanding Christian woman. We will deeply miss her warm smile and affectionate hugs.

“Sing with the angels now sweet friend!” singer Stella Parton tweeted.

Lee Greenwood, the singer known for “God Bless the U.S.A.,” expressed his feelings in a statement: “I adored her lively spirit.” He continued, “She had an incredible knack for making everyone feel uplifted, and her voice will continue to resonate eternally within the country music community. She was a legendary figure in our industry, and she will be deeply missed.

In a 2024 interview, Roman shared that she was an energetic and unconventional comedian at Dallas nightclubs which featured adult entertainment when she was chosen for the “Hee Haw” cast in 1969.

Entertainment & Arts

On a Thursday, with the constant hum of helicopters above, Lee Greenwood received a call off-stage at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C., where he was performing.

Born as Bertha Louise Hable in Dallas, Texas, in 1946, she spent her early days at a home for unmarried mothers before being given up for adoption and spending her childhood in an orphanage. Due to emotional distress, she turned to food for comfort, leading to significant weight gain. Unable to find an adoptive family, she resorted to drug use during her high school years, as reported by Florida Weekly.

In her sixties, she shared with CBN that food may have turned into her comfort or escape the day she entered the orphanage. Sugar, in particular, seemed to offer solace because it didn’t cause pain, it didn’t argue, and it didn’t belittle her. Instead, sugar became a source of comfort for her during her early years.

A thyroid condition didn’t help.

In 2020, I shared with Florida Weekly that I was quite the free spirit, even being compared to a hippie,” she admitted. Back then, my career revolved around being a more voluptuous comedic go-go dancer. To be honest, country and gospel music didn’t appeal to me at all. Instead, I found myself deeply immersed in the world of drugs.

Travel & Experiences

Designer extraordinaire, Bob Gurr, responsible for engineering the monorail, the thrilling Matterhorn Bobsleds, the spooky Haunted Mansion’s “doom buggies,” and many other creations, shows no signs of letting up.

In the late 1960s, the well-known musician Buck Owens submitted his name for consideration when the cast of “Hee Haw” was being chosen.

In a conversation with WTVF in 2024, Roman mentioned the following characters: “We’re looking for a typical neighbor boy, a heavy-set and not-so-bright man, and another heavy-set and not-so-bright woman,” Roman explained. “Buck announced, ‘I found your girl! She’s in Dallas!’

She affirmed that he had spoken truly, she stated this on the “Larry’s Country Diner” podcast in 2021. Roman was chosen for the series, which initially aired as a summer substitute for “The Smothers Brothers.” However, it turned out to be a massive success, running for an impressive 23 seasons. Throughout its 352 episodes, Roman featured in 158 of them, including both the first and last.

She was absent from the cheesy comedy show between 1971 and 1973 due to her arrest for drug possession, resulting in a prison sentence.

Music

In a touching tribute, country music legend Dolly Parton pens a heartfelt ballad for her husband Carl Dean, expressing peace and acceptance since she believes he’s now resting in the care of God.

She confided in Florida Weekly that her actions, albeit unintentional, were aimed towards taking her own life. She revealed her past struggle with substances such as marijuana, cocaine, LSD, and methamphetamine. Despite multiple attempts, she found that it never ended as intended. However, she later realized that God had a purpose for her life.

In 1973, as reported by the source, she embraced Christianity and later returned to “Hee Haw” to perform gospel music. Over time, she released over a dozen albums and shared the stage with Dolly Parton. In the late 1990s, she was honored by being inducted into the Country Gospel Music Hall of Fame.

After her role in Robert Blake’s 1972 film “Corky,” Roman made appearances in the spin-off series “Hee Haw Honeys” during the late 70s and two episodes of “The Love Boat” in 1983. Later, she was featured on “Touched by an Angel” in 2001.

At the start of the 21st century, Roman found herself unable to overlook her health issues, as stated to CBN. “I weighed approximately 380 pounds. I was confined to a mobility scooter and couldn’t walk. My legs were causing me trouble, and so was my back,” she explained.

Television

Gathering once more for ‘The Real Love Boat Revisit’, original actors Ted Lange and Jill Whelan reminisce about the show’s visiting stars, encountering racial prejudice within 1970s Hollywood, and various other topics.

At the age of around 61 or 62, I arrived at a point where I realized I couldn’t effectively serve as a witness for my Father in this condition. I was unable to travel, stand, or breathe properly. Recognizing this, I understood that I needed to undergo a transformation, a change in my lifestyle.

Through laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) surgery in 2005, and by emphasizing portion control, she shed approximately 200 pounds. The LAGB was taken out in 2009, but she successfully maintained her weight loss since then.

She confided to CBN that she was filled with fear. However, she continued, ‘But then I decided to put my faith in you, Father, that you will let me keep holding onto this.’

On Thursday, it was shared by People that Ben Laurro, the ex-publicist of the singer, stated, “Lulu Roman was often overlooked. Despite facing numerous hardships throughout her life, she became a source of joy for many.

Roman had two marriages and is now survived by her eldest son, Damon Roman. Sadly, her younger son, Justin Collin Roman, passed away before her in 2017.

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2025-04-26 00:31

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