Be Our Guest: Upcoming Grand Ole Opry guest announcers include: WKDZ/Cadiz, KY's Fletch (9/23); CRB's RJ Curtis (9/24); KYGO/Denver's Tracy Dixon (9/26); WVLK/Lexington, KY's Diedre Ransdell (10/8); voice talent John Willyard (10/10); WKPW/Knightstown, IN's Kevin Freeman (formerly of WFMS/Indianapolis) (10/11); comedian and former syndicated host Patrick Thomas (10/14); KWMT/Fort Dodge, IA's Dale Eichor (10/17); and KPLX/Dallas and American Country Countdown's Ryan Fox (11/8). Curtis, Willyard and Eichor are all members of the Country Radio Hall of Fame. See previously reported Opry guest announcers here.

Bits & Pieces: WIRK/West Palm Beach morning co-hosts Tim Leary and Chelsea Taylor will serve as Grand Ole Opry guest announcers Dec. 5. Former iHeartMedia programmer Alek Halverson guest-announced Aug. 16. See other Opry guests here.

Curtis WQDR/Raleigh APD/MD/midday host Abby Leigh will hold Taylor Time weekdays at 12:12pm until the Oct. 3 release of Taylor Swift's The Life Of A Showgirl. Leigh will feature a Swift song as requested and introed by a fellow Swiftie.

Bits & Pieces: Apple Music Country personality Ty Bentli (8/6) and KSKS/Fresno, CA morning co-host Kris Daniels (10/29) are the latest radio personalities added as Grand Ole Opry guest announcers. Bentli calls his appearance tonight "incredibly special to me to get to participate (just briefly) and become a small part of a place that means so much to all of us who have been lucky enough to cherish it." Daniels calls her participation "a dream come true." See other upcoming guest announcers here.

The Aug. 4 Koe Wetzel & Friends: Stronger Together show in Irving, TX, raised $774,870 for the Kerr County Flood Relief Fund. Performers included Wetzel, Kolby Cooper, Casey Donahew, Ray Wylie and Lucas Hubbard, Pecos Hurley of Pecos & The Rooftops, Mike Ryan, Shane Smith of Shane Smith & The Saints and Dylan Wheeler. The full livestream is available to re-watch here.

In celebration of National Radio Day (8/20), Women In Radio is seeking 15-20 second portrait-style videos from broadcasters to share on social media. Include your name, job title, location and one lesson you’ve learned from the industry, and submit it via Instagram DM to @WomenInRadio by Aug. 10 at 3pm ET.

Bits & Pieces: Newly-added Grand Ole Opry guest announcers include Albright & O'Malley & Brenner Consulting's Kenny Jay (7/22), KKBQ/Houston's Katelyn Maida (8/26), WUSY/Chattanooga's Melissa "Mo" Wagner & Greg "StyckMan" Owens (9/12), P4 Country/Swedish National Radio's Mattias Hansson (9/13), Local Radio Networks' Linda O'Brian (11/1), KYGO/Denver's Shawn Patrick (11/7) and Absolute Country Radio's Baylen Leonard (11/18). See other upcoming guest announcers here (CAT 6/4).

Competing on the upcoming CBS reality talent competition The Road (CAT 2/25) are: Briana Adams, Blaine Bailey, Cassidy Daniels,  Olivia Harms, Cody Hibbard, Billie Jo Jones, Britnee Kellogg, Forrest McCurran, Adam Sanders, Jenny Tolman, Channing Wilson and Jon Wood. The show – also featuring Keith Urban, Blake Shelton and Gretchen Wilson (CAT 4/28) – premieres in the fall.

Guest List: Silverfish Media's Big D & Bubba (July 20), iHeartMedia's Wayne D (Aug. 6) and KSCS/Dallas' Rachel Ryan (Aug. 8) will be among those serving as guest announcers for the Grand Ole Opry in the coming months. Also on the roster are KVST/Conroe, TX's Mary McCoy (7/19), Hillbilly Hits Radio's Tracy Pitcox (7/19), WVVR/Clarksville, TN's Chad Heritage & Monica Reed (8/2) and Local Radio Networks' Jim West (8/23).

They join the previously reported Evan Paul (7/11), Buzz Jackson (7/26), Bob Pickett (7/26) and Hannah Lane (10/3). Those with a radio show, podcast or YouTube series who wish to serve as a guest announcer during the Opry's 100th year can apply here. Opry SVP/Exec. Producer Dan Rogers tells Country Aircheck, "After radio, I want to offer the opportunity to industry friends so everyone can be a part of celebrating 100 years."

Bits & Pieces: KIIM/Tucson PD Buzz Jackson will serve as a Grand Ole Opry guest announcer July 25. Jackson says, "Over the years I've had some amazing experiences in this job—helping local causes, watching new artists go from bar gigs to the big time, even being inducted into the Country Radio Hall of Fame, but this is truly something special." Jackson is also celebrating his 25th anniversary in afternoons at KIIM this year.

The Texas Radio Hall of Fame is accepting nominations for its 2025 induction class from voting members here through June 30. Those interested in membership can sign up here by July 8 at a discounted first-year rate of $25.

After the May 30 Jason Aldean concert was cancelled at Boston's Fenway Park due to a structural issue with the stage (CAT 5/30), WBWL kicked off a weekend of Aldean-centric programming that day billed as "Jason Aldean: The Show Goes On," creating what VP/Marketing Adam Ralston describes as "an on-air concert experience with Aldean’s biggest hits and collabs to try to recreate what everyone expected to see at Fenway Park."

Hanszen KMHT/Marshall, TX has been honored with the 2025 Bonner McLane Public Service Award for small market radio by the Texas Association of Broadcasters (TAB), recognizing broadcast stations' outstanding contributions and service to their local communities. The award will be presented at the TAB Conference August 6-7 in Round Rock.

Bits & Pieces: Dylan Scott has signed on as a brand ambassador for Ford Trucks, which gifted him with a new SuperDuty F-250 King Ranch Edition during his May 21 Easy Does It album release party in Nashville.

After losing a football bet to KFKF/Kansas City PD/morning host Dale Carter, Original Country Gold host Rowdy Yates joined the morning show today (5/23) to do Carter's bidding. Yates will also join the KFKF crew for tonight's Alabama/Lee Greenwood concert at Azura Amphitheater. OCG has aired on KFKF for more than 20 years.

Audacy KSON/San Diego morning hosts John Flint and Tammy Lee raised more than $83,000 this week to adopt, train and deliver two service dogs (and two puppies) to local veterans suffering PTSD via Paws for Purple Hearts. 

KVET/Austin afternoon personality and Country Radio Hall of Famer Bob Pickett will serve as a Grand Ole Opry guest announcer July 26. He calls it "a bucket list item" and "one of the biggest things that has ever happened in my career." Watch him share the news here.

Bits & Pieces: Cody Johnson has been added as a headliner for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo's 2026 season. He will perform March 22, the event's final night. Tickets Aug. 21 here.

Dolly Parton has extended her partnership with Conagra Brands to launch a line of single-serve frozen meals. Flavors include beef pot roast and country fried steak and retail for under $5. 

The National Music Publishers' Association (NMPA) will honor Kacey Musgraves (Songwriter Icon) and Rhett Akins (Non-Performing Songwriter Icon Award) at its annual meeting June 11 at Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall in New York.

WUSJ/Jackson, MS morning co-host/content creator Hannah Lane will be a Grand Ole Opry guest announcer on the 7pm show Oct. 3. "To host an iconic stage that has shaped the heart of country music for generations is something I will remember and honor forever," she says.

Bits and Pieces: Riley Green's Buford Bonds Fund golf tournament raised $150,000. It included a writers round performance with Green, Jamey Johnson, Randy Montana, Erik Dylan and Drake White.

Local Networks' Scott Gaines served as a Grand Ole Opry guest announcer April 19, calling it a "bucket list item." He introduced Ashley McBryde's performance during the show.

Buddy Owens, formerly of KNIX/Phoenix, was honored with the Arizona Media Assocation's Board Chair Award last night (4/22) in Scottsdale for his many years in country music.

ICYMI: The Grand Ole Opry was connected to the International Space Station on July 20 to welcome its first radio guest announcer from outside planet Earth, NASA astronaut and Retired U.S. Navy Captain Barry “Butch” E. Wilmore and his flight crew. Watch here.

Charles Wesley Godwin repped the West Virginia Mountaineers on ESPN's SportsCenter.

Bits & Pieces: Scotty McCreery, Gary LeVox, Jamey Johnson and Gary Sinise & The Lt. Dan Band are among the artists who will be celebrating the 30th anniversary of Forrest Gump during a July 28 Grand Ole Opry show. Producer Wendy Finerman and actor Mykelti Williamson – "Bubba" in the film – are guest announcers. Five dollars from every ticket will benefit the Gary Sinise Foundation. Purchase here.

True Public Relations co-owner Marcel Pariseau and songwriter Sam Hollander have been added to the National Board of Directors for Musicians On Call. True has offices in Nashville and Los Angeles.

Bits & Pieces: Cox KKBQ/Houston Q Morning Show hosts Andy “Riggs” Riggle, Erica Rico and Katelyn Maida hosted the 93Q Taylor Swiffer Open to give away two tickets to this weekend’s Taylor Swift show at NRG Stadium. Thirteen listeners qualified and competed by using a Swiffer to clean off a square space covered in dirt and grime. One square held the two tickets, while others included Swift swag and additional prizes. See the contest unfold here.

Bonneville KYGO/Denver APD/afternoon personality Shawn Patrick will make his Grand Ole Opry debut as a guest announcer tomorrow (4/22) to introduce artist Chancey Williams. “Shawn Patrick is one of our earliest supporters,” says Williams. “His passion for the music industry, for Country radio and especially supporting independent artists is inspiring.” Watch the Grand Ole Opry live tomorrow night here; congratulate Patrick here.

Field Of Screams: Charles Esten, Jackie Lee, Adam Craig, Adam Doleac, Brett Kissel, Liz Rose, Maddie Poppe, Walker McGuire, Smithfield, Home Free's Austin Brown, Megan Alexander, Shawn Parr, Caleb Lee Hutchinson, Gabby Barrett and Uncle Si & the Si-Cotics have been added to the City Of Hope Celebrity Softball Game lineup June 9 at Nashville's First Tennessee Park (CAT 5/9). Charlie Monk, Jeannie Seely and Tim Rushlow will join Naomi Judd as guest announcers with main emcee, iHeartRadio's Gator Harrison. The Bobby Bones Show's Eddie Garcia, "Producer Ray" Ray Slater and "Morgan #2" Morgan Huelsman will join Bones on the field. Celebrities on the Grand Ole Opry and iHeart teams will play for City of Hope's mission to find cures for cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases. Ticket info here.

Softball, Y'all: Lauren Alaina, Bobby Bones, Brandi Cyrus, Trent Harmon, Lucas Hoge, Tegan Marie and the NFL's Jay Cutler and Marc Mariani have been added to the City Of Hope Celebrity Softball Game lineup June 9 at Nashville's First Tennessee Park. Harmon will also sing the national anthem, and Naomi Judd will serve as the play-by-play guest announcer. Celebrities on the Grand Ole Opry and iHeart teams will play for City of Hope's mission to find cures for cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases. Ticket info here.

Fundraising For Idiots: Premiere's Bobby Bones and his band The Raging Idiots raised $60,000 for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital with a Nashville benefit concert Tuesday (11/18). Broken Bow's Jason Aldean and Stoney Creek's Lindsay Ell also performed, and St. Jude patient Caleb was guest announcer. The event brings Bones' total fundraising for St. Jude to $210,000 in the last three weeks. His show raised $150,000 in honor of cast member Amy Brown's mother, who recently passed away (CAT 11/17). 

Barn Of A Different Color:  

The second annual Opry Goes Pink gets underway next Tuesday (10/12) and features online and broadcast charity components to benefit Women Rock For The Cure and Nashville's Susan G. Komen For The Cure. Among the items up for bid at opry.com will be an Opry vacation package and autographed items from artists including Luke Bryan, Craig Morgan and Sugarland. The Judds are set to "flip the switch" to change the Grand Ole Opry's backdrop pink during an Oct. 15 concert, where Kimberly Williams-Paisley and FOX News' Greta Van Susteren will grace the stage as guest announcers. The two charities will get an extra $5 when ticket buyers mention "oprypink" over the phone or online at opry.com. Pink packages including passes, a Judds meet-and-greet and a Judds-autographed show print will also be available. Details here.