In 1958 he moved to Nashville to replace Rod Brasfield on the nationally-syndicated Prince Albert segment of the Grand Ole Opry. Shortly after, he signed a contract with RCA Victor and one of his early singles, “Trouble in the Amen Corner” reached the 1960 country music Top 25. After an unsuccessful stint with the Starday label, Campbell returned to RCA in 1966 and had three Top 30 singles: “The Men in My Little Girl’s Life” (1966), “The Dark End of the Street” (1968), and “Tell It Like It Is” (1968). He was named “Comedian of the Year” in 1969 by the Country Music Association.

1969 Campbell joined Hee Haw on CBS as a chief writer and on-air talent. His regular characterizations included the Barber, in which he performed his Spoonerism stories and his “That’s Bad/That’s Good” routines; the Doctor; and, “Justus O’Peace,” his version of the classic “Judge” routine of Pigmeat Markham. One of his most well known segments was the “Where Oh Where” song in which he would perform a short verse of original comedy followed by a standard “Where Oh Where are you tonight” chorus which would lead he and a singing partner, often Gordie Tapp sticking their tongues out at each other and spitting.

During his Hee Haw years Campbell also recorded several comedy/music albums such as Bull Session at Bull’s Creek with Junior Samples and Archie Campbell (Elektra 1976). He frequently performed duets with singer Lorene Mann.

In 1984, Campbell hosted TNN’s Yesteryear interview show. Campbell was an accomplished amateur golfer and built one of the earliest lighted golf courses in the United States. An avid painter, he also owned an art gallery and served on the school board in Knoxville, where he lived until he suffered a fatal heart attack in 1987. His childhood home on Main Street in Bull’s Gap has been preserved as a memorial, and has been expanded into a “tourism complex and museum” which hosts annual “Archie Campbell Days” each September. He is buried near the town of Powell, Tennessee.

Following Campbell’s death, U.S. Highway 11 through Bulls Gap, Tennessee was renamed “Archie Campbell Highway” in Campbell’s memory

There’s NO DOUBT Archie was one of country music’s greatest
comedians and a precious piece of Hee Haw history.
I miss him very very much!