Guy Hovis dead at age 84: Singer who performed on legendary Lawrence Welk Show dies after battling illness in hospital

Singer Guy Hovis has died at age 86 after battling an illness in the hospital. 

A regular performer on the legendary variety series The Lawrence Welk Show, Hovis' extraordinary career has seen him release 15 albums and even perform at the inauguration of President George W. Bush. 

Along with his then-wife Ralna English, the pair made music together and performed on Welk's show as the singing duo 'Guy & Ralna'. 

The loss was confirmed by his daughter Julie, who told TMZ that her father passed peacefully on Thursday at Oxford, Mississippi.

Julie said her father had been in the hospital with an undisclosed and lingering illness for the past few weeks.

Hovis' ex-wife Ralna English and former singing partner confirmed the news with Facebook followers, saying he 'took a turn for the worse' following a weeks-long hospitalization. 

'As it has for me, this will come as a shock to many of you,' she began. 'Guy has been in the hospital for several weeks. I spoke briefly with him on Monday and was deeply concerned. 

'He took a turn for the worse and it hurts me to tell you , but he died peacefully last night. Needless to say, at this time we are all devastated and simply trying to cope with this tragic news. Thank you for your prayers for Julie and Sis and Guys entire family.' 

English shares a daughter with Hovis and despite their split remained friendly.

'We’ve enjoyed a pretty good relationship for almost 50 years now. It is partly the blend of our voices and also that we’ve always harmonized very easily together,' Hovis told Wicked Local in 2015. 'We’ve also kept a good personal friendship over the years, because of our daughter.'