BOBBI’S FINAL BOW: Bobbi Ray Carter, the “Queen of TV Shopping” and the first female live shopping host on television, is about to say farewell to HSN after 43 years on the job.
She’ll be getting a huge sendoff with friends, family, brand partners, fellow hosts, and fans at a studio event airing live on Sunday, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The show will be highlighting Carter’s on-camera look from head to toe, and of course, it will be shoppable.
Carter has been one of the most recognizable personalities in television shopping. She began her career in 1983 when HSN operated from a small local studio in Clearwater, Fla., where hosts retrieved products from shelves through a hole in the wall before presenting them on-air and answering customer calls themselves. Over the last four decades, Carter became a trusted voice in millions of homes, spending nearly 42,000 hours on-air and helping shape the modern retail entertainment experience.
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“It feels a little full circle. In the beginning it was just the host, the product, and the audience, and that connection is still what makes it so special today,” Carter said in a statement. “Whether on TikTok Shop, our linear channels or e-commerce, great products — and our connection with the customer — is what it’s all about.”
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Customers can tune in across multiple platforms for dedicated programming blocks and nostalgic flashbacks and tributes to celebrate Bobbi Ray Carter’s career. There’s also a documentary, “A Legendary Journey — Celebrating Bobbi Ray Carter’s HSN Career,” covering Carter’s impact. It can be seen on the QVC+ and HSN+ free TV streaming services.
“For 43 years, Bobbi Ray Carter has brought warmth, authenticity, and an incredible connection to our customers,” said Stacy Bowe, president of HSN. “The broadcast will be a fitting tribute to a woman who helped define HSN and create lasting relationships with viewers.”