Andy & Alison Unplugging

After a highly successful 20-year run as the morning team on Cumulus Country WIVK/Knoxville, TN, Andy Ritchie and Alison Mencer have made the decision to step away from their daily radio show. They have agreed to remain on the air while the company searches for what will be only the fourth morning show in the station’s history. Andy & Alison and the Morning Crew debuted in 1997 and had consistently been the preeminent morning show in East Tennessee, earning a combined 10 CMA and ACM morning show awards.

Ken Salyer, VP/Market Manager, Cumulus Media Knoxville, commented, “Andy and Alison have earned a well-deserved place in the illustrious history of WIVK. They have been the ‘morning crew’ for East Tennessee for the last 20 years. It’s been an honor to have been associated with them. We’ll miss them.” OM Jeff Jarnigan said, “Andy and Alison have been the listeners’ choice for as long as I can remember and built a foundation for WIVK of which they can be proud. While we don’t want them to leave, we understand the priority both place on family.” WIVK PD Nikki Thomas said, “I have so much love and respect for Andy and Alison. It has been a tremendous honor to work with two of the most professional and revered broadcasters in country radio. I am sad to see them go… but I’m happy for their decision to spend more time with their families. Who could ever find fault with someone for doing something that makes them happy?”

Andy (pictured here with Alison and their close, personal friend, Tom Cruise), remarked, “A huge THANK YOU to our East Tennessee listening family for allowing us to be a small part of your lives for the past 20 years! I hope we were at least able to put a smile on your face. You are the best! Making the decision to leave our friends at WIVK was not an easy one. I can’t imagine a better place to spend the past two decades on the air. It’s time for a change. I’m incredibly excited about new adventures with more time to work from my home studio, spend time with family and sleep late! Did I mention sleeping late?! What I’m most thrilled about is no longer needing to answer the question, ‘Hey Andy! Where’s Alison?'”

And speaking of Alison…. Mencer added, “It has been an honor and a privilege to work for the No. 1 Country station in America for the past 20 years. WIVK has been the voice of information and entertainment for the East Tennessee area for over 60 years and I’m extremely proud to have been a part of it. I will miss my co-workers, who I also consider friends, and this great radio station. I look forward to no longer setting my alarm at 4am and being able to go to a movie at 9pm without falling asleep! It’s time for me to move on, do some traveling with my husband and find some new adventures in life.”