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Hunter said, "We had the old and the new.
I never turned my back on the new performers, but I never turned my back on the old ones either."
He maintained strict standards to keep the show family-friendly. "I wanted it to be a good family show, that families could sit down and watch together.
There were no dirty jokes and no smutty language," he said.
Musical Achievements and Final Years
As a recording artist for Columbia and Harmony, Hunter scored hits including his theme song "Travellin' Man" and won a Juno Award for top male country artist in 1970.
He continued touring after his show ended, drawing over one million viewers for a 2003 CBC special.
After successful prostate cancer surgery in 2004, he organized a farewell tour in 2011-2012, retiring while his voice was still strong.
"If I ever felt that I couldn't hit that mark, I would throw in the towel very quickly," he said.
Hunter concluded his final tours healthy and satisfied.
"I'm in good health, I can still sing, so I want to go out when I can still do the things and not disappoint an audience," he said.
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He was inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame and appointed to the Order of Ontario and the Order of Canada.
