‘Gene Williams Country TV Show’ now available to 50 million households weekly

Some 50 million households across the nation and in Canada and Puerto Rico may now watch the weekly television show featuring Branson, Mo., courtesy of Gene Williams and his Lucas Oil sponsored “Gene Williams Country Television Show” with the addition of seven new cities from Virginia to Texas and South Dakota. The newest locations in which it can be seen are Austin, Texas, Montgomery, Ala., Detroit, Orlando, Fla., Lynchburg, Va., Wichita, Kan., Bozeman, Mont., and Sioux Falls, S.D.

This is the second announcement of adding television stations made this year. In February, Williams announced Atlanta, Seattle, Reno, Nev., Lafayette, La., and the tri-cities area of Tennessee and Virginia including Kingsport, Johnson City and Bristol had joined his list of stations. In 2007 Williams increased the stations by a dozen prime markets and added Puerto Rico in 2006.

Between the February announcement and now, Williams also put his name on the theater in which is show is taped. Now the “Gene Williams Country Music Television Show” is taped live in the Gene Williams Theatre inside the Branson Mall on the world famous Highway 76.

A winner of four National Telly Awards, the Gene Williams Show features celebrity guest stars such as Mickey Gilley, Ed McMahon, the Oak Ridge Boys and Roy Clark. Celebrities perform with Williams’ band, the Country Junction Band, are interviewed up-close-and-personal by the legendary Williams and his co-host Katie Lynn.

The newest stations that carry the show are KEYE/CBS/RTN in Austin, Texas; Saturdays at 5 a.m. and Sundays at 1 a.m.; KBTZ/FOX in Bozeman, Mont. Sundays at 9:30 a.m.; KLMNFOX in Great Falls, Mont., Sundays at 9:30 a.m.; WSET/ABC/RTN in Lynchburg, Va., Sundays at 9:30 a.m.; WSFA/NBC in Montgomery, Ala., Sundays at 9:30 a.m., KWSD/CW in Sioux Falls, S.D. Sundays at 9:30 a.m.; and KGPT/RTN in Wichita, Kan., Saturdays at 6:30 a.m.

 “We started out seven years ago in Branson with this TV show and broadcasting it in three markets, now we are approaching 100 cities and have our own theater. We have added new cities where viewers are already fans of Branson and its entertainment scene or will quickly become fans. Our fans enjoy the show’s country music, our comedy and our great band. In the Country Junction Band we have some of the best pickers in Branson and country music. We also have some of the best guest stars,” said Williams whose celebrity line-up is impressive.

In addition to Gilley, McMahon, the Oak Ridge Boys and Clark, Williams has welcomed Johnny Cash’s band The Tennessee Three, Doug Kershaw, Barbara Fairchild, Sons of the Pioneers, Jimmy Osmond, the Osmonds, Helen Cornelius, Leona Williams and Bob Anderson. Charlie Louvin, Narvel Felts, Margo Smith, Jim Owen, Cal Smith, Stonewall Jackson, Norma Jean, Mary Lou Turner, Little Jimmy Dickens, Jean Shepard, Bill Anderson, Porter Wagoner, Buck Trent, Wanda Jackson, Johnny Lee, Fred Travalena, Diamond Dave Somerville and Razzy Bailey have also guest starred on his stage.

At the Gene Williams Show admission for the studio audience is always free. The doors open at 1:30 p.m. with taping at 2 p.m. Taping dates to the end of the year are July 20, Aug. 10 and 31, Sept. 21, Oct. 12 and Nov. 2, 16 and 30 and Dec. 7. In addition to his TV show, Williams showcases The Sweethearts of Branson, Denny Yeary and Shelia Renee, at 2 p.m. Monday through Thursday and “Jeff Sallee's Classic Country Revue” with a tribute to Buck Owens at 8 p.m. through Aug. 30 and 5 p.m. Sept. 2-Dec. 13. “Lookin’ for Love” Johnny Lee is making country music history by presenting his own show with his Urban Cowboy Band beginning Sept. 2-Dec. 13 at 8 p.m. at the theater.

Williams is credited with having the largest syndicated country music television show not affiliated with Nashville (where his show is telecast) and with breaking ground for country television. The Gene Williams Show began in 1963 in Arkansas and is now the longest running television show taped in Branson. In 2006 Williams’ television show was listed as the most popular TV show in national ratings on WNGS Buffalo/Rochester, N.Y. It was also listed as a favorite TV show in the national magazine, “Maxim.”

Williams began his career in the country music field as a DJ on Memphis’ KWAM in 1957 and was named 1961 Grand Ole Opry DJ of the Year. Two movies he made about country music featured more than 39 Grand Ole Opry stars including Ray Price, Carl Smith, Jordanaires, Kitty Wells, Little Jimmy Dickens, Grand Ole Opry Square Dancers, Marty Robbins, Webb Pierce, Ernest Tubb, June Carter, Bill Monroe, Duke of Paducah and Faron Young.

Williams is an inductee to the Memphis Music Hall of Fame and has been nominated to two halls of fame, the Branson Entertainment Hall of Fame Museum and the Arkansas Entertainers Hall of Fame. He holds a record in Arkansas of having nine days proclaimed Gene Williams Day by six governors including three times by former President Bill Clinton. He was honored with a road named after him and a historical marker in his hometown, Dyess, Ark., and presented the key to Dyess in appreciation for his support to help preserve the town’s history. Williams also received a key to Horseshoe Bend, Ark., for founding the Horseshoe Bend Theater where he featured country stars such as Dolly Parton, Mickey Gilley, Porter Wagoner and more and will be honored with Gene Williams Days in 2009.

St. Martins College presented Williams with an honorary doctorate degree in television and broadcast communications in recognition of his commitment to the industry. The Missouri Senate and the State of Arkansas have honored him for his contributions to the tourism industry.

Williams’ co-host Katie Lynn has received the Branson Entertainment Awards Best Support Vocalist twice for her work in the "Mickey Gilley Show." She has worked with Gilley for more than seven years and also worked with Jim Owen for seven years. In addition to her singing career, she is a real estate agent. She and the guest star perform each week with the Country Junction Band.

In addition to the cities listed above, the show can also be seen in Aberdeen, Miss., Ada, Okla., Albany, N.Y., Alexandria, La., Amory, Miss., Atlanta, Baldwin, Miss., Booneville, Miss., Branson, Mo., Bruce, Miss., Buffalo, N.Y., Burlington, Vt., Cadillac, Mich., Calhoun City, Miss., Casper, Wyo., Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Cheyenne, Wyo., Coffeyville, Miss., Colorado Springs, Colo., Columbia, S.C., Cornith, Miss., Denison, Texas, Denver, Ecru, Miss., Eldorado, Ark., Eugene, Ore., Eupora, Miss., Eureka Springs, Ark., Fayetteville, Ark., Flynt, Mich., Fort Smith, Ark., Green Bay, Wis., Guntown, Miss., Harrison, Ark., Holly Springs, Miss., Houlka, Miss., Houston, Miss., Idaho Falls, Idaho, Jonesboro, Ark., Lafeyette, La., Las Vegas, Nev., Lexington, Ky., Little Rock, Ark., Marianna, Fla., Marquette, Mich., Memphis, Tenn., Mt. Vernon, Ill., Myrtle, Miss., Myrtle Beach, S.C., Nashville, Tenn., Nettleton, Miss., New Albany, Miss., Niagara Falls, N.Y., Okolona, Miss., Oxford, Miss., Panama City, Fla, Pittsburgh, Plattsburg, Vt., Pontotoc, Miss., Provo, Utah, Pueblo, Colo., Pullman, Wash., Raleigh, N.C., Reno, Nev., Ripley, Miss., Roanoke, Va., Rochester, N.Y., Roseberg, Ore., Salt Lake City, Utah, Satillo, Miss., San Francisco, San Juan, Puerto Rico, Santa Barbara, Calif., Savannah, Ga., Seattle, Shannon, Miss., Sherman, Miss., Sherman, Texas, Smithville, Miss., Spokane, Wash., Springfield, Mo., St. Louis, Syracuse, N.Y., Toledo, Ohio, Tri-Cities, Tennessee and Virginia, Tupelo, Miss, Vardaman, Miss., Verona, Miss., Water Valley, Miss., and Waterloo, Iowa.