Shotgun Red was a popular puppet that co-hosted the television talk show Nashville Now from 1983 to 1993. He was performed by Steve Hall, a musician, comedian and voice artist who was born in Sheldon, Iowa. Hall died on December 28, 2018, at the age of 64 in his hometown of Brainerd, Minnesota. What was the cause of his death and how did he live his life?
The Discovery of Shotgun Red
Hall found the puppet that would become Shotgun Red in a Minnesota hobby shop in 1980. He bought it for forty dollars and used it as the emcee for his band at the time, Southbound ’76. He gave the puppet a distinctive voice and personality, and named him after his favorite shotgun shell.
The Rise of Shotgun Red
Hall and Shotgun Red traveled to Nashville to compete in the final round of The Seagram’s 7 Battle of the Bands Contest. There, they crashed Ralph Emery’s local morning TV show and impressed the host with their humor and charisma. Emery invited them to be his co-hosts on Nashville Now, a talk show that aired on The Nashville Network (TNN).
Shotgun Red became a beloved character on the show, often interacting with Emery and the guests, and making jokes and comments. He also released two albums with Emery, Ralph & Red: Songs for Children and Christmas With Ralph & Red. He appeared on the television variety show Hee Haw for eight years and hosted TNN’s music video show Country Clips for six years. He interviewed many country artists, such as Garth Brooks and Randy Travis.
Shotgun Red also appeared on the Grand Ole Opry and was a part of Steve Hall’s Shotgun Red Band, which performed on the General Jackson Showboat for 15 years and the Nashville Nightlife Dinner Theater. Hall and Shotgun Red were nominated ten times for the Music City News Comedy Act of the Year.
The Legacy of Shotgun Red
Hall and Shotgun Red also created their own television show on RFD-TV called The Shotgun Red Variety Show, which featured a variety of acts from around the country. Hall enjoyed hunting, fishing and cooking, and started a YouTube channel called Cooking with Shotgun Red with his fiancée Miss Sheila Keeton. The channel reached over 100,000 subscribers and continues to produce videos after Hall’s passing.
Hall died of natural causes while taking a trip to go ice fishing in his hometown of Brainerd, Minnesota. He was 64 years old and left behind his son, Steve Hall Jr., his fiancée, Miss Sheila, and his loyal fans. Shotgun Red’s voice and humor will be missed by many, but his legacy will live on through his recordings, videos and memories.
