» Dial's Hope: Dial Global's Classic Country PD John St. John has been named PD of the company's Mainstream Country format. He succeeds Penny Mitchell, who remains with the channel as APD/evenings. St. John joined DG in February (CAT 2/3) and previously programmed KYGO/Denver in addition to Jones Radio Networks' Hot Country before its acquisition by DG. "With his success in both major markets and as a network programmer, John has the background and experience to continue growing Dial Global's most popular music format," says VP/Country Media Jim Murphy. St. John will continue to program Classic Country.

» Tripp Up: First Ventures/Mighty Media's WVIM/Memphis MD/Prod. Dir./PM driver Tripp is handling programming and mornings until a replacement is named for Tim Jones, who exited yesterday (CAT 11/18). Weekender Art Fredrick is filling in on PM drive for Tripp. Reach Tripp here. Expect to see a PD named soon.

» The Gap Band: Gap West's KID-FM/Idaho Falls, ID PD Jeff Evans and Digital OM Josh Tielor have launched Jeff & Josh In The Morning, replacing Premiere's Big D And Bubba. The show debuted Monday (11/16) and both personalities continue their previous duties.

» Queen B: Cincinnati.com's John Kiesewetter's TV and Media Blog has leaked the local pre-currency Arbitron PPM 12+ ratings for October (Sept. 17-Oct. 14), reporting that Bonneville's CMA Award-winning WUBE scored a 8.1 (No. 2). While that Meter figure should not be compared to its diary 7.7 in Summer '09 (2) and 7.1 in Fall '08 (2), it is higher than B-105 has seen in recent memory. Classic Country sister station WYGY earned a 1.4 (18), contrasted with a 0.7 this past Summer (20t) and a 1.2 in Fall '08 (17). The Queen City's official 6+ PPM currency shares and cumes for October, November and December will be released New Year's Eve.

» Said What? The first person to congratulate Taylor Swift when she was named Entertainer of the Year last week was four-time winner Kenny Chesney. What did he say as he embraced her on the way to the stage? "I told her that they don't give these away, she should be very proud of herself, and she should take it and run with it," Chesney tells CMT's Country Countdown USA. "You have to earn being in that spot, and I know how hard she's worked, and I was very proud of her. I wanted her to know I was proud of her." Watch the moment here.

» Award Of The State: Congratulations to KYGO/Denver PD Joel Burke, who this week begins his 10th year with the station. During his remarkable tenure, KYGO has won three CMA Major Market Station awards (including '09), four Marconi Awards (also this year), three CMA Personality awards, and numerous ACM nominations.

» Wild Pitch: Former WKMK/Monmouth-Ocean, NJ APD/MD/PM driver Lee Ann Taylor will be featured on CNN's 30 Second Pitch with Kyra Phillips Friday (11/27) at 1:20pm ET. Phillips will ramp-up the segment detailing Taylor's resume, followed by the currently unemployed programmer's best "why you should hire me" live speech. Taylor was asked to appear after reaching out to Phillips via Twitter, and plans to wear a specially made "Your Calls Here" shirt for the broadcast. Reach out to her here.

» Desperately Seeking Hat: Kudos to the WDWG/Rocky Mount, NC staff and middayer Dave Richmond for raising more than $7,000 to benefit the American Cancer Society last week. Richmond promised to shave his beard if radiothon donations surpassed $1,000 and then his head if they topped $5,000. He kept his word with a public shaving at a local dealership Saturday (11/14). Pictured after (l-r) are Assistant Kim Patridge, OM David Perkins, Richmond and Business Mgr. Angie Webb.

» Team Teen: Big Machine is offering the Fifteen: The Times & Trials of the American Teenager radio special with exclusive audio from Taylor Swift. It's described as "a chance to reach both your teen listeners and their parents, by providing them information about the pressures teens face today, and offering solutions on choosing the right path in life." The 27-minute broadcast is available for airing the weekends of Nov. 21-22, 28-29 and Dec. 5-6. For more information contact Donna Hughes at 615-337-8018 or here.

» ACM Corral: The ACM is hosting the ACM Stage at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo for the fourth consecutive year, running Dec. 3-12. Artists include Ash Bowers, Easton Corbin, Halfway to Hazard, LoCash Cowboys, Sean Patrick McGraw, David Nail, Heidi Newfield, Joe Nichols, Sunny Sweeney and Josh Thompson. Two performances from each artist will be held daily and are free to all NFR fans and ticketholders.

» Garner Wages: AfterMidnite's Blair Garner will air a special six-hour show Sunday (11/22) promoting the T.J. Martell Foundation's Text 4 Life mobile giving program. Listeners can make a $5 donation to the foundation by texting "TJ" to 90999; the contribution goes directly to their cell phone bills.

» Warmer Bros. Singer/songwriter Josh Kelley, brother of Lady Antebellum's Charles Kelley, has signed a record deal with Universal Music Group/Nashville. Kelley is currently in the studio working on an album to be released in 2010. "Universal is a perfect home for me and my music," Kelley says. "They have an awesome track record of allowing artists to be who they really are, and have already been so supportive of my new music. I'm stoked to be part of such a talented group of artists and staff."

» They Got Whatever It Is: Jimmy Buffett and the Zac Brown Band are the next pairing on CMT Crossroads. The special will tape before an invitation-only audience next month in Nashville, to premiere in March 2010.

» And The LAW Won: MCA's Lee Ann Womack has been added to the lineup of George Strait and Reba's upcoming spring tour. "I'm trying to figure out what to wear ... because you can't out-starch George and you can't out-spangle Reba," Womack says. The tour kicks off Jan. 22 in Baltimore. Complete list of dates here.

» Country Aircheck Today Top 5: Here are the Top 5 songs for Nov. 18:

1. LADY ANTEBELLUM/Need You Now (Capitol) 2427 points
2. LUKE BRYAN/Do I (Capitol) 2162 points
3. REBA/Consider Me Gone (Starstruck/Valory) 2062 points
4. CARRIE UNDERWOOD/Cowboy Casanova (19/Arista) 2040 points
5. KENNY CHESNEY f/DAVE MATTHEWS/I'm Alive (BNA) 1811 points

All daily airplay data is from Mediabase 24/7.

» Country Aircheck Today Top 5 Downloads: Here are Play MPE's Top 5 for Nov. 18:

1. LOVE AND THEFT/Dancing In Circles (Lyric Street)
2. LUKE BRYAN/Do I (Piano Version) (Capitol)
3. KEITH URBAN/Til Summer Comes Around (Capitol)
4. CHRIS YOUNG/The Man I Want To Be (RCA)
5. BRAD PAISLEY/American Saturday Night (Arista)

Red Highlights District: 19/BNA's Kellie Pickler and label rep RJ Meacham (l) stop by WMZQ/Washington, DC to chat with AM driver Joe Boxer and PD Meg Stevens (r).

Mall? Rats: Show Dog's Mica Roberts enjoys a night out on the town with WDAF/Kansas City MD Wes Poe, who apparently took her to a shopping mall.

Lovin' Knit: WCTK/Providence morning host Tim Leary and technical dir. Amanda Leonardo pose with Operations Warm Hometown Hugs founders and Army and Marine representatives to present 3,559 scarves to military personnel. The month-long drive started when Leary made fun of Leonardo's knitting on-the-air, and New England listeners came to her defense by purchasing or creating their own. Standing (l-r) Army Sgt. First Class Andy Oates, Marine Staff Sgt. Jose Espinosanova, OWHH co-founders Nick and Ron Cardi, Leary and co-founder Pete Cardi. Sitting (l-r) are co-founder Karen Ellenwood, Leonardo and co-founder Colette Degagne.