WXRT & Terri Hemmert Mark 50 Years
• Friday, November 3, 2023, was a landmark date in Chicago radio history, as legendary broadcaster Terri Hemmert celebrated her 50th year at Audacy Triple A WXRT, which marked its own half-century of service last year
Hemmert graduated from Elmhurst College (now Elmhurst University) in Elmhurst, IL with a Bachelor’s in speech. It was there that her broadcasting career began at the school’s non-commercial radio station, WRSE-FM/Elmhurst. Her professional experience started in 1970 at WGLD-FM/Oak Park. In 1972, she joined WCMF/Rochester, NY before returning briefly to WGLD in 1973, which leads into her WXRT debut on November 3, 1973 … and the rest, as they say, is history. In 1981, Terri Hemmert became the first woman to host morning drive in Chicago (below) — current XRT morning host Marty Lennartz was her producer.
On Friday morning, Hemmert joined Lennartz on the morning show to kick off a weekend-long celebration, which began, awesomely enough, with a Chicago City Council resolution, read aloud by the dulcet tones of legendary broadcaster Bill Kurtis, proclaiming Friday, November 3rd, 2023 as “Terri Hemmert Day” in the City of Chicago. Fellow Radio Hall of Famer and Chicago Cubs announcer Pat Hughes presented Terri with a personalized Chicago Cubs jersey emblazoned with the number “931.” The morning show concluded with WXRT’s broadcast and production studios officially renamed as “Terri Hemmert Studios.” That evening, WXRT aired a special presentation of Live From The XRT Concert Archives: Mavis Staples, recorded at the Old Town School of Folk Music on November 28, 2004. Terri and Mavis have a decades-long friendship.
On Saturday, November 4, Terri hosted Saturday Morning Flashback, where, from 9am until noon, she captured 1973’s spirit through music, memories and shared experiences. Saturday Morning Flashback debuted in 1985, making it WXRT’s (and one of Chicago’s) longest running radio programs.
And on Sunday, November 5, Breakfast With The Beatles, which Terri has produced and hosted since its debut in 2002 featured the just-released “last Beatles song,” “Now And Then.” It was Hemmert’s love of the Fab Four that helped propel her into a radio career, as she recalls, “I saw a picture in a teen magazine of Cleveland disc jockey Jim Stagg interviewing Ringo Starr on The Beatles’ 1965 tour. I thought if I became a DJ I could meet The Beatles. Being surrounded by music I love and colleagues who are family while calling Chicago home — that’s why I stuck around for 50 years.”
Below: The WXRT air staff gathers outside XRT’s newly dedicated “Terri Hemmert Studios” on Friday November 3 for this souvenir photo. Pictured, (l-r): afternoon talent Ryan Arnold, morning host Marty Lennartz, the legendary Terri Hemmert, midday personality Annalisa, and weekend warriors Frank E. Lee & Johnny Mars. [Photo Credit: Jennifer Rosiere/ Lyla Lane Live]
For more details about Terri Hemmert’s remarkable career, please visit desotostate.prezly.com. [Special thanks to Ryan Arnold!
