Whatever Happened To ‘Hee Haw’ Star Barbi Benton?
What To Know
- Barbi Benton rose to fame as a star on Hee Haw and also found success as a model, singer, and frequent guest on various television shows in the 1970s and early 1980s.
- She achieved musical success with country-pop hits like “Brass Buckles” and “Ain’t That Just the Way,” and appeared in several TV series and films before retiring from show business in 1986 after becoming a mother.
- Now 76, Benton enjoys a private life with her husband and two children, occasionally appearing in documentaries and specials related to her entertainment career.
Barbi Benton turns 76 on January 28, and for fans of Hee Haw, she’ll always be one of the show’s most unforgettable faces. At the same time, she seemed to pop up everywhere else on television, too, from variety programs to primetime guest spots, and even on the country music charts. Then in the late ’80s, Benton stepped away from public life. So whatever happened to one of Hee Haw‘s most recognizable stars?
How did Barbi Benton begin her career?
Benton grew up in Sacramento with ambitions that initially had nothing to do with show business. She was a strong student with a wide range of interests, including piano, scuba diving, and modeling department-store fashions while still in high school. For a time, she planned to become a veterinarian and enrolled at UCLA before realizing she could not handle the sight of blood.
Modeling soon redirected her path, and by age 18, she was working on the television series Playboy After Dark. What started as an extra role quickly grew, eventually turning Benton into one of the show’s co-hosts. During that time, she also dated Playboy founder Hugh Hefner for a few years and appeared on the cover of Playboy four times.
Everett Collection
Her mainstream television breakthrough came when she joined Hee Haw in 1969. Benton became a regular presence on the series, appearing in comedy sketches and musical segments that made her a favorite with viewers. Around the same period, she also danced during seasons five and six of Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In from 1971 through 1973. After four seasons on Hee Haw, Benton left the show to pursue other acting opportunities, which led to guest appearances on popular series such as The Love Boat, Fantasy Island and The Bobby Vinton Show.
Music became another unexpected chapter in Benton’s career. Signing with Playboy Records in the mid-’70s, she leaned into country pop and scored a genuine hit with “Brass Buckles,” which reached the top five on Billboard’s country singles chart in 1975. Several follow-up singles charted modestly, and albums such as Barbi Doll, Barbi Benton and Something New kept her visible on the radio. One of her later releases, “Ain’t That Just the Way,” became a major hit in Sweden, where it spent five weeks at number one.
ABC/Everett Collection
On screen, Benton continued acting into the early ’80s, with appearances in television movies and guest roles on series including Charlie’s Angels, CHiPs and Murder, She Wrote, as well as in feature films such as Hospital Massacre and Deathstalker. She was also a frequent presence on game shows and entertainment programs.
Where is Barbi Benton today?
Benton married real estate developer George Gradow on October 14, 1979, and the couple eventually welcomed two children, Alexander and Ariana. After the birth of her first child in 1986, Benton officially retired from show business. She and Gradow divide their time between homes in Aspen and Los Angeles, including their distinctive Aspen residence known as the Copper Palace, which has been featured on home and design television programs. While she no longer pursues acting or recording, Benton has occasionally appeared in documentaries and retrospective specials connected to Playboy history and classic television.
Remind 
Queens of Country
November 2019
Get your toes-tapping as we give a nod to the queens of classic country music.
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