You know how sometimes you hear a name from the past and it just triggers this massive wave of nostalgia? For anyone who grew up in the tri-state area around Cincinnati, that name is often Colleen Sharp. Or, as many know her now, Colleen Sharp Murray. People have been asking lately—and honestly, it's a valid question—is Colleen Sharp Murray still alive?
There is a lot of noise online. If you Google the name "Colleen Sharp," you’ll find a half-dozen obituaries for different women with the same name. It's confusing. But when we’re talking about the "Golden Age" songstress of WLWT, the lady who shared the stage with Bob Braun and Paul Dixon, the answer is a happy one.
As of early 2026, Colleen Sharp Murray is alive.
In fact, she’s been back in the spotlight recently, not as a performer, but as a legend being given her flowers while she can still smell them.
The WLWT Hall of Fame and the 2025 Induction
Just a few months ago, in late 2025, Colleen made a rare and wonderful public appearance. WLWT-TV (Channel 5) inducted her into their Hall of Fame. It was a big deal. She’s 85 years old now, but if you saw the footage or the photos from the ceremony, that sparkle is still very much there.
She grew up in a tiny town called Economy, Indiana. Population 300. Basically a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it kind of place. She used to tell stories about walking home from school for lunch just to watch the Fifty-Fifty Club with her mother. Imagine being that kid, watching Ruth Lyons on a flickering screen, and then years later, becoming the one the kids are watching.
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At the induction, she was joined by Bill Myers, who is 91. Seeing them together was like a time capsule opening up. They talked about the "wild west" days of live television where nobody really knew what they were doing, but they were doing it in front of millions of people.
Why People Get Confused About Her Status
Honestly, the internet is a mess when it comes to legacy stars. If you search for her, you might stumble across a Colleen Sharp who passed away in 2015 in Miami, Oklahoma. Or another who died in 2011 in Pryor.
This is the problem with "common" names in the digital age. But our Colleen—the one who sang on the Paul Dixon Show and the Midwestern Hayride—is very much with us.
She hasn't been a "public" person in the traditional sense for a while. After the era of live variety shows ended in Cincinnati, many of those stars just... lived their lives. They became neighbors, parents, and friends, stepping away from the cameras. That's why people start wondering. If you aren't on Instagram every day, the world assumes you've moved on.
The Career That Defined a Region
To understand why people still care if she's alive, you have to understand what she meant to the Midwest.
- The Paul Dixon Show: She was a staple here. This wasn't just a show; it was a phenomenon.
- The Bob Braun Show: When Ruth Lyons retired and Bob took over, Colleen was part of the glue that kept the audience loyal.
- Midwestern Hayride: This was a huge deal for country and variety music, and she held her own with the best of them.
She started at the station in 1966. Think about that. She worked alongside David Letterman when he was just a goofy weatherman. She knew Rod Serling back when he was teaching in Cincinnati. She wasn't just a singer; she was a witness to the birth of modern media.
Where is Colleen Sharp Murray Now?
She lives a relatively quiet life, but the 2025 Hall of Fame induction showed that she hasn't lost her wit. During her induction, she reminisced about the Ohio State Fair and how Paul Dixon never quite believed he was famous. She recalled how they’d take a bus from the hotel to the fairgrounds, and Paul would be craning his neck, terrified that no one would show up. Every time, the stands were packed.
Colleen was the one who saw the human side of these icons. She saw the nerves, the mistakes, and the genuine connection they had with the audience.
Dealing with the "Death Hoaxes"
It's weirdly common for stars of a certain age to be targeted by those "automated" obituary sites. You’ve seen them—the ones that pop up on Facebook with a black-and-white photo and a vague headline.
Don't fall for them.
When a local legend like Colleen Sharp Murray passes, it won't be a random pop-up ad. It will be front-page news in the Cincinnati Enquirer and the lead story on Channel 5. The fact that she was just celebrated by her peers in late 2025 is the best evidence we have that she is doing just fine.
Practical Steps for Fans
If you're a fan of that era of television and want to keep up with Colleen or her contemporaries, here is the best way to do it without getting lost in fake news:
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- Follow the WLWT Hall of Fame updates: They are the primary source for her recent public life.
- Check the Cincinnati Magazine archives: They do deep dives into the "Golden Age" of local TV and often interview Colleen for her perspective on the old days.
- Ignore "People Search" sites: Those sites aggregate data from 20 years ago. They are almost never accurate regarding current status.
Colleen Sharp Murray remains a living link to a time when television felt like a conversation with a neighbor. She's a reminder of a Cincinnati that was the center of the broadcast universe. It’s good to know she’s still here to see how much she’s appreciated.
To see the most recent photos and footage of her 2025 induction, your best bet is to visit the WLWT official website and search their "Hall of Fame" section. It’s a heartwarming watch that confirms she is still the same Colleen we all remember.
Next Steps for Readers
- Watch the 2025 Induction Video: Search "WLWT Hall of Fame 2025" on YouTube to see Colleen's recent speech and her reunion with Bill Myers.
- Visit the Cincinnati Museum Center: They often have exhibits on the history of WLW and WLWT that feature memorabilia from Colleen’s era.
- Share Your Memories: If you have a story about seeing Colleen perform at the Ohio State Fair or on the Bob Braun Show, share it in local history forums—these first-hand accounts are how we keep the history of local TV alive.