Original HGTV Star who Began Career in Grand Rapids Has Passed Away at 97

One of the original stars of HGTV known as "the Queen of Crafts" passed away recently in Traverse City, Mich.

Get our free mobile app

Born in Milwaukee, Carol Duvall was raised in Grand Rapids, which is where she began her TV career in 1951.

At the time, Wood-TV was brand new, and Michigan's first television station outside of Detroit. Duvall auditioned and won a spot on a show for children called “Jiffy Carnival".

In 1962, Wood's manager moved to WWJ-TV in Detroit and hired Duvall to work there. She hosted a morning show called "Living". She worked there for the next 18 years, eventually hosting her first craft show, "Here's Carol Duvall". She later starred on the national show, ABC's "The Home Show", Fox News reports.

In 1994, Duvall was hired at the brand new TV network, HGTV. According to the New York Times, she hosted “The Carol Duvall Show,” which lasted more than 1,000 episodes, ending in 2005.

She also regularly appeared on the shows “Our Home” and “Handmade by Design.”

Duvall also wrote two books, 2007's "Paper Crafting with Carol Duvall" and 1972's "Wanna Make Something Out of It?".

According to Duvall's obituary, she passed away July 31, 2023 in Traverse City, where she had been a longtime resident. She was 97.

Friends and family are encouraged to share their memories of her.

Barbara writes,

I have so many wonderful memories about Carol from multiple appearances on her show, to hosting her in my home when she came to Ft Worth. She had such a fantastic disposition, it was fun to be around her and she will be missed by many.

DLG shares,

My deepest sympathy to Carol’s family and friends. I watched her show so often I felt like she was my friend. She made an impact on so many people. I know she’ll be missed.