A Personal Note

Just wanted to let my listeners know… Today is my last day as the host of “The Mouth of the South Morning Show.”

For the last 9 years this night owl has truly enjoyed waking you up in the mornings and being employed at 101.7 KVOM. I was hired immediately after college and began my career with River Valley Radio. In fact, they waited a whole month for me to graduate when they didn’t have to. I’m so thankful I graduated (early) when I did because it opened so many doors. I couldn’t wait to get my feet wet and began working for 102.3 KCJC doing the “Fast Track” in the afternoons. 6 months after being there, I was offered a promotion to move down the street to KVOM and I never looked back. We played the music that I loved and this new opportunity to host the morning show was just what I had always dreamed of. A 22 year old, single female… with her own show? This is stuff dreams were made of.

I’ve seen many changes throughout my time here. Although I had to grit my teeth at times when I was disappointed or upset with things… I pulled my boot

straps up, smiled, and moved forward. You do that when you truly love what you do… whatever your career path. You might not agree with what is going on or might be excited about new change; either way… you evolve. Always. The music must go on. A huge chunk of my heart will remain at KVOM… Entertaining you was something I don't take for granted. I often at times joke with people… “I

just get paid to talk because let’s be honest, I’m not good at anything else!”

 

During the early years I remember spending the night at the radio station (from being out too late the night before -HA!) terrified I wouldn’t wake up in the morning. I’ll never forget (during the red dirt golden years -HA!) winning “Radio Personality of the Year.” 3 times might I add…. at the Texas Regional Radio Awards Show. I've never been so excited to be rubbing elbows with red dirt acts and Nashville artists that I believed in. I really wanted to see them succeed because that meant I was succeeding. It was amazing to go to a Turnpike Troubadours concert and see every single person in the crowd sing every single word to every single song. I would think, Hey, they listen to MY STATION. It gives me the radio dork chills. I’ll never forget the interviews, concerts, events, Trading Time (OMG, okay maybe I’d like to forget that- I could write an entire blog post about Trading Time and the crazy calls that went along with that.) the smiles, the friends I made, the remotes, my clients, the precious listeners… the music.

With all the happiness; I had much heartbreak though in my personal life through those 9 years left on the airways. If you knew me personally and what was going on.. you could always could confirm it by the songs I was playing.

I’ll never forget when I was on a personal break for about a month in September 2011. Scott passed away. Music was something we both held on to and adored. It also helped me grieve. I remember thinking, “How can I be happy on air when I feel so miserable and heartbroken inside?” God winked at me as soon as I walked into the station. Reassuring me that everything was going to be okay. My desk was covered in cds, notes, letters, junk mail. There was a box on my desk (not unusual, promoters sent us stuff all the time.) I opened this box, and there was a poster and a cd from George Strait. This was unusual though… Big artist NEVER sent us stuff. We got things from a bunch of no-name up and coming artist. Never THE KING of COUNTRY. He had just came out with a new song and was promoting it. Scott loved George. So I thought, how crazy!? I opened the cd and unrolled the poster… I played “Here For a Good Time” immediately on the radio for the first time. If you’ve ever heard the lyrics… it described Scott to a T.

"I ain't here for a long time
I'm here for a good time
So bring on some sunshine, to hell with the red wine
Pour me some moonshine
When I am gone put it in stone, he left nothing behind'
I ain't here for a long time
I'm here for a good time"

It really was a magical moment the first time I played that song. I felt his spirit with me that early morning at the radio station. To this day, every time I hear that song I think of KVOM, Scott, and the magic of radio.

When I was a little girl I would play on my swing set outside and sing as loud as I could and then pretend to be a radio DJ and announce the next song. I would

then make up commercials and sing jingles… and then move on to the next song. I would record songs off the radio with a tape recorder and then make my own announcements in between. Total radio and music nerd from birth. When I got older I quickly realized that I would never make it as a singer, but why not make it as someone announcing the songs?

I’m very thankful for this last year of pre-recording my show. While it wasn’t the same as before; it did give me a little perspective to what is important in life. I am so thankful for the opportunity it gave me to keep my foot in the door and still do what I love. I love radio, my family, my store, my life but above all I love my Lord. Without him none of this would have even happened.

Thank you to my friends and colleagues (at what will always in my heart be RVR) -Rich, Aaron, Johnny, Eric, Hunter. You’ll always be rock stars in my book that do too much with too little pay. Thank you for allowing me to be a tiny piece in your lives on air and now behind the scenes. None of this would have been possible without you.

Listeners, thank you for rallying behind me and supporting me. Thank you for listening. Radio is nothing without the listeners.

My family. My friends. Thank you for hearing my heart on the air for these last 9 years. Don't touch that dial...