Meet The Country Radio HOF Class Of ’25!
• The Country Radio Hall of Fame Class of 2025 was revealed today during CRS Honors at CRS 2025 in Nashville. This year’s honorees, comprising three On-Air Personality inductees and three Radio inductees, represent the pinnacle of dedication and impact in Country radio. In the On-Air Personality category: Big D & Bubba, Mary McCoy, and Rowdy Yates. In the Radio category, please welcome Ginny “Rogers” Brophey, Clay Hunnicutt, and Gregg Swedberg.
• Derek “Big D” Haskins and Sean “Bubba” Powell first teamed up in 1996 at WTGE/Baton Rouge, LA and launched their own, self-syndicated morning show just three years later. By the early ’00s, they were the largest syndicated morning program in Country radio. Under the banner of their company, Silverfish, Big D & Bubba’s reach extends to 97 radio stations, partnered with 71 broadcast companies. They’re the longest running morning show syndicated on a national basis.
• Mary McCoy has been entertaining radio listeners in Conroe, TX for more than 70 years, a feat that has been recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records. Her radio career started in 1951 at KMCO-AM/Conroe, TX, and for the past 30 years she has worked six days a week at KVST (K-Star Country 99.7)/Huntsville-Conroe, TX, alongside co-host Larry Galla. Mary is a 2010 Texas Radio Hall of Fame inductee, and a 2024 inductee into the Radio Hall of Fame.
• Already a member of the Texas Radio Hall of Fame, Rowdy Yates will mark 40 years in radio this year, capped off with his induction into the Country Radio Hall of Fame. Since 2019, Rowdy has worked with Houston-based SuiteRadio as Operations Manager and pm drive personality for the 24/7 formats The Brandand The Legend. He’s also host of The Rowdy Ride Home, the first nationally syndicated PM drive program in the history of Country radio.
• Ginny “Rogers” Brophey‘s 40-year radio career includes stops at some of the most prestigious brands in the format. Her programming and on-air skills have contributed to Country music’s success and growth in the challenging region of the Northeastern U.S., most notably in Boston, with stops at WBOS, WKLB, and WBWL. Since 2022, Brophey has served as Brand Manager/Air talent/Content Creator at Townsquare Country WOKQ/Dover-Portsmouth NH.
• Clay Hunnicutt is one of the rare industry pros who has enjoyed major success at both the radio and label side of the business. From his start an unpaid college intern at WUSY/Chattanooga, Hunnicutt rose through the radio ranks, ultimately leading to corporate roles for iHeartMedia, including EVP of Programming for the company’s major markets, VP/Brand Manager of Country Programming for the company’s 143 Country stations, and VP/GM of iHeart’s National Programming Platforms. Hunnicutt later left radio to launch Big Loud Records as President. His next stop was GM of Big Machine Records, and he most recently served as EVP Label Operations for Big Machine Label Group.
• Gregg Swedberg has spent the last 34 years programming iHeartMedia Country radio powerhouse KEEY (K102)/Minneapolis to ratings success, reaching No. 1, not only in the Country format, but for the entire Minneapolis radio market. Swedberg was named K102 PD in 1992, eventually rising to Operations Manager, Sr. VP/Programming, Regional Sr. VP/Programming and National Country format Coordinator for iHeartMedia.
The Country Radio Hall of Fame celebrates individuals who have made significant and lasting contributions to the industry. To qualify, candidates must have worked in the radio industry for at least 20 years, with 15 years in the Country format. Inductees are recognized in two categories: On-Air Personality, highlighting the achievements of on-air talent, and Radio, honoring professionals behind the scenes in programming, management, and sales.
The 2025 Country Radio Hall of Fame Induction and Dinner will be held Monday, July 21, at the Virgin Hotel Nashville. Additional details and ticket info will be released closer to the event.
