TENNESSEE ERNIE FORD

February 13, 1919

Ernest Jennings Ford (known professionally as Tennessee Ernie Ford) was born in Bristol, Tennessee. He was a singer and television host who enjoyed success performing country and Western, pop, and gospel music. He was known for his rich bass-baritone voice and down-home humor. He is remembered for his hit recordings of “The Shotgun Boogie” and “Sixteen Tons”, winning a Grammy Award in 1965.

Before he even made an appearance on “I Love Lucy”, Ford was first mentioned during “Lucy Writes a Play” (ILL S1;E17), when playwright Lucy mistakenly dubs herself the next Tennessee Ernie, instead of Tennessee Williams.

He was the first and only celebrity to make three guest star appearances (playing a variation on himself) on “I Love Lucy.”  A popular country singer of the 1950s, it was his first credited ‘acting’ job, before his big hit with the song “Sixteen Tons” in 1955.

His first time appearing with Lucille Ball was in “Tennessee Ernie Visits” (ILL S3;E28

Filmed April 1, 1954 and first aired on May 3, 1954.

In a letter from Lucy’s mother (a character not yet introduced) it is explained that Ernie is the middle boy of Ella Scott Porter’s husband and that Ella was an old college roommate of Flo Pauline Lopus who lives in Jamestown.  

The surprise visit turns out to be a case of culture shock for the ‘Cousin’ Ernie (who is no relation to Lucy or Ricky at all). His voracious appetite and country ways make Lucy go to extreme lengths (cue the ‘Wicked City Woman’) to hasten his departure. 

But he’s still there in the next episode, “Tennessee Ernie Hangs On” (ILL S3;E29), filmed on April 8, 1954 and first aired on May 10, 1954.

Three times the charm in “Tennessee Bound” (ILL S4;E14) filmed on November 18, 1954 and first aired on January 24, 1955. While the gang is motoring to Hollywood, they take a wrong turn and end up in Ernie’s hometown of Bent Fork.

The gang is jailed for speeding and it is up to Ernie (who knows the politics of the small town) to spring them – by a square dance, of course! 

In 1958, Ford sold Fords during the “Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour.” 

His popular TV program “The Ford Show” was not named after him, although many assumed so, but after his sponsor, the Ford Motor Company.

Tennessee Ernie Ford played Homer Higgins on “The Lucy Show” in “Lucy and Tennessee Ernie Ford” (TLS S5;E21) first aired on February 27, 1967.  Higgins plays a successful country music singer who Lucy and Mr. Mooney are aiming to land as a depositor – even setting him up in a swanky penthouse. The episode was a nod to the successful “Beverly Hillbillies.”

The episode ends with a hoe-down at the bank, of course!

Lucille Ball appeared on “The Tennessee Ernie Ford Special” on November 16, 1968. Ball’s appearance was her was her way of repaying him for appearing on “The Lucy Show”. A month later Ball and Ford both did cameos on “The Dean Martin Christmas Show.” 

Ford went on to make another alliterative appearance on “Here’s Lucy” (HL S1;E23) as Ernie Epperson, proprietor of “Uncle Ernie’s Fun Farm”.  The episode was first aired on March 10, 1969. 

The Carters join Ernie in an all-singing all-dancing commercial for the Fun Farm. 

Ford also made alliteratively-named characters on "The Red Skelton Show” (as Loser Lumpkin), and the Desilu-filmed "Make Room For Daddy” (as Kentucky Cal). Two weeks before Kentucky Cal showed up at the Williams apartment, the Lucy and Ricky Ricardo visited in a reciprocal cross-over episode titled “Lucy Upsets The Williams Household” aired on January 5, 1959.  So while the Ricardos know Tennessee Ernie, they narrowly missed meeting Kentucky Cal!  

Ford married Betty Heminger in 1942 and they had two children. She died in 1989 and Ford re-married Beverly Wood. 

Ernie Ford died on October 17, 1991. He collapsed after leaving a White House dinner and died a few days later, exactly one year to the day after being elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Ford battled all his life with a drinking problem, something which ultimately undermined his health.