Gunilla Hutton From ‘Hee Haw’ Had An Affair With Music Royalty

Among the ever-growing list of variety shows, Hee Haw still manages to stand out for its unique premise, uniting country music with wild, distinct comedy – and a few curvaceous figures – to create a program that left a big impression. Part of its success was thanks to the enduring talent of its wild cast, which featured the lovely Gunilla Hutton as Nurse Goodbody. But her story extends beyond scenic Kornfield Kounty.

Gunilla Hutton was born in May 15, 1944, all the way in Gothenburg, Sweden. However, her family completely relocated in time for her to attend high school in Fort Worth, Texas before she moved again to attend UCLA. Some of her earliest work would be on game shows like Family Feud, Match Game, and Password.

How long was Gunilla Hutton on ‘Petticoat Junction?’

Hutton would quickly transition to scripted programs, including Perry Mason and the 1980 comedy film Murder Can Hurt You. But perhaps most notably, she appeared in Petticoat Junction, playing Billie Jo Bradley in season three for 23 episodes out of its total of 34. In 2015, MeTV included Hutton alongside Lori Saunders and Linda Kaye Henning in a promotion of the program.

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Fittingly, just as Petticoat Junction was produced by screenwriter Paul Henning, so too was Hee Haw, along with The Beverly Hillbillies and Green Acres. She would add The Love Boat and Fantasy Island to her filmography in the ’80s before winding down her acting career. But that certainly wasn’t the full extent of her whirlwind story.

A story for the ages

Speckled in with her work as an actress, Hutton also developed a singing career. She had multiple singles to her name, including “You Can Say the Prettiest Things Sometimes,” “Chowchilla Dust,” “You’re Gonna Get Loved,” and “Cody,” along with their respective B sides, “The Greatest Story Never Told,” “We’ve Got Old Fashioned Love,” “See the Lady Cryin,” “The End of Our Love Song,” all from the first half of the ’70s. Hutton got to show off her angelic pipes in Hee Haw.

On top of the on-screen drama, Hutton also allegedly got caught up in a torrid affair with a musical icon. For several years, Hutton had been in an extramarital affair with Nat King Cole. The story goes, Hutton eventually called up Cole’s wife, Maria, and told her to divorce him, leaving the playing field fully open for them to be together. Maria took this unpleasant revelation to her husband, who ultimately broke things off with Hutton after being diagnosed with terminal lung cancer.

Today, Hutton is 79 and was last seen on-screen in the 2010 documentary Pickin’ and Grinnin’. In her personal life, Hutton married Allan Freeman and has a daughter named Amber. Hopefully, she might consider serenading fans’ hearts in the future one more time.