Meet Your Country Radio HOF Class of ’22
• The Country Radio Broadcasters just announced the Class of 2022 Country Radio Hall of Fame honorees — the off-air inductees are Becky Brenner and Barry Mardit, and the on-air inductees are Whitney Allen, Debbie Conner, Cathy Martindale, and Rachael Hunter & Steve Grunwald. Multi-platinum artist Jason Aldean revealed the names of the honorees moments ago during CRS Honors at CRS 2022 in Nashville.
Joel Raab, CRB’s Country Radio Hall of Fame Committee Chairman, commented, “This Radio Hall of Fame Class has made us all proud! Congratulations to this esteemed group of dedicated professionals who have given so much of themselves to Country Radio.”
• Becky Brenner (left) is a 45-year industry veteran who is currently a Consulting Partner with Albright & O’Malley & Brenner Country Radio Specialists.
• Barry Mardit (center) is a 47-year radio pro who has worked at WEEP/Pittsburgh and WWWW (W4)/Detroit. He now operates Barry Mardit Consulting and serves on the CRB/CRS Agenda Committee.
• Radio Hall of Fame nominee Whitney Allen (right) boasts a three-decade radio career that includes stints at KCBQ/San Diego, Pirate Radio, KIIS-FM & KZLA/Los Angeles. After eight years with the syndicated After Midnite, Allen created and hosted America’s Hot List, The Big Time and Big Time Saturday Night.
• Debbie Conner (left) began her career in 1966 and notably went on to work at WMPS/Memphis, WSAI/Cincinnati, WCAO/Baltimore, WYCT/Pensacola, and enjoyed a successful 12-year run at WIL/St. Louis. She previously did middays on SiriusXM’s Roadhouse and has hosted Envision Networks’ Country Oldies Show Hall Of Fame since 2014.
• Cathy Martindale (second from left) began her Country radio career at KSCS/Dallas in 1974, serving as PD, APD & MD. In 1983, she joined WSM-AM & FM/Nashville, where, over the 17 years did mornings, afternoons and was MD. Martindale, a member of the Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame, currently hosts zMax Racing Country Classics for Performance Racing Network.
• Rachael Hunter (second from right) & Steve Grunwald (right) have done mornings at Audacy’s WYCD/Detroit since 2005. Hunter is a 2013 Gracie Award recipient and Grunwald is a part-time police officer. They were NAB Marconi winners in 2012 & 2016, and named “Best Morning Show” by the Michigan Association of Broadcasters in 2017 & 2019.
The Country Radio Hall of Fame is dedicated to the recognition of those individuals who have made significant contributions to the radio industry over a 20-year period, 15 of which must be in the Country format. The Class of 2022 will be formally inducted during the annual Country Radio Hall of Fame Ceremony on Thursday, June 30 at the Virgin Hotel in Nashville, with details TBA.
