Kelly Ford will succeed Shawn Parr as host of Beasley Media Group and Key Networks’ syndicated nightly “Backstage Country” starting Monday, February 26.
Ford is best known for her run co-hosting “America’s Morning Show” and “Ty, Kelly & Chuck” for Westwood One from 2015-18. She spent two decades at Country 98.5 KYGO Denver from 1992 to 2012 and then joined 94.7 WNSH New York following its 2013 launch as midday host before being moved to the syndicated morning show. She would then return to WNSH to launch a local morning show in January 2019 until the station dropped the Country format in 2021, while also hosting a national 90’s Country weekend show for Audacy. Since then she has been hosting a Nashville based podcast.
The current iteration of Backstage Country launched last February when the Beasley show of that name, which originally featured a different Country artist hosting each week, merged with Key Networks’ “Shawn Parr’s Across the Country“. Parr previously hosted Westwood One’s “Nash Nights Live” from January 2014 until the end of 2019. He also spent two stints at Country “Z93.9” KZLA Los Angeles from 1993 to 2006 and hosted mornings on “Go Country 105” KKGO Los Angeles from 2007 to 2013. In the announcement, Key Networks’ COO Dennis Green states, “As we welcome Kelly to the Backstage Country team, we want to thank Shawn Parr and his team for producing a top-notch syndicated radio show for the past three and a half years, with Shawn Parr’s Across the Country and Shawn Parr’s Backstage Country. Shawn has decided to take his love of raising money for the various charities he supports on the road using his voice as an emcee/auctioneer. We wish Shawn and his team all the best and thank them for their great work on these successful shows.”
Beasley Media Group, LLC, a leading multi-platform media company, and Key Networks, a next generation radio syndication company, announce that award-winning Country radio personality Kelly Ford joins Backstage Country,Country’s fastest-growing nationally syndicated Country music program, as the show’s new Host. Ford, based in Nashville, will host Backstage Country alongside a powerhouse lineup of today’s hottest Country artists as weekly hosts. Ford takes the hosting reins with Country superstars Lady A on Monday, February 26, 2024.
Country radio listeners across the U.S. know Ford from her time co-hosting the Nashville-based nationally syndicated Country morning show, Ty, Kelly & Chuck, for Westwood One. In addition, Ford stands as the only solo female morning show host in the history of Country music radio in New York City, as Host of Kelly Ford in the Morning on Country 94.7/WNSH-FM, a station she helped launch in 2013. She also hosted a nationally syndicated weekend 90’s Country Show for Audacy. Ford has earned three broadcasting honors from the CMA’s, an ACM Award, three Gracie Awards, and a Marconi Award.
Ford currently hosts a podcast, “The Kelly Ford Show: Nashville Truth”, and has built an extensive collection of artist interviews, live on-stage hosting, on-camera work for Extra TV, and unique content creation for her own company, Force of Nature Creative.
Justin Chase, Chief Content Officer, Beasley Media Group, said: “Kelly Ford is highly respected by the Nashville music community and loved by the fans of Country radio. We’re lucky to have her as part of the team building the Backstage Country radio show and BackstageCountry.com brand!”
Dennis Green, Chief Operating Officer, Key Networks, noted: “We are excited to welcome Kelly Ford as host of Backstage Country and look forward to a brilliant new year with the energy and fun she brings to the show. Kelly’s authentic and personal approach to Country music and trademark wit make her a favorite with male and female Country fans of all ages.”
Kelly Ford commented: “I’m thrilled to join Backstage Country and humbled to be co-hosting alongside Country music’s biggest stars. I’m incredibly grateful to Key Networks and Beasley Media Group for entrusting me with this incredible platform that creates a space where artists can open up and share their journeys with fans in a whole new way. I can’t wait to dive into their stories, and our shared love of Country music. Get ready for insider access to never-before-told stories, lots of laughter, and lots of fun! Plus, kicking this off with Lady A? Talk about a dream debut! Let’s gooooooooo!! The backstage door is wide open!”
Green noted: “As we welcome Kelly to the Backstage Country team, we want to thank Shawn Parr and his team for producing a top-notch syndicated radio show for the past three and a half years, with Shawn Parr’s Across the Country and Shawn Parr’s Backstage Country. Shawn has decided to take his love of raising money for the various charities he supports on the road using his voice as an emcee/auctioneer. We wish Shawn and his team all the best and thank them for their great work on these successful shows.”
Now heard on over 80 U.S. radio stations and in 27 of the top 50 DMA markets,Backstage Country is hosted each week by today’s hottest Country artists, sharing exclusive backstage insights and giving listeners a VIP all-access pass to today’s most exciting Country music and entertainment
Backstage Country is available in multiple dayparts on a market-exclusive basis from Key Networks. The four-hour localized Country music entertainment program offers Country stations and their listeners unmatched access to Nashville’s biggest Country music stars, rising stars, and new artists, and showcases the best of Country music in a highly entertaining and PPM-friendly format. Backstage Country is available to stations Monday-Friday via FTP delivery. The show is customized to air anywhere in a station’s lineup between 6am-Midnight – Mornings, Middays, Afternoons or Nights. In addition, fans can get the latest news, interviews, music and more on-air and through the show’s website, https://backstagecountry.com/.
Backstage Country affiliates include Beasley Media Group stations WKLB-FM, Boston, MA; WXTU-FM in Philadelphia, PA; WQYK-FM in Tampa, FL; KCYE-FM, Las Vegas, NV; WSOC-FM, Charlotte, NC; WKXC-FM, Augusta, GA; and WKML-FM, Fayetteville, NC.
To bring Backstage Country and Nashville’s hottest Country stars to your market, visit: www.keynetworks.com or contact Dennis Green, Chief Operating Officer, Key Networks, at 844.KEY.NETS ordennis@keynetworks.com. For advertisers and sponsors, contact Jason Wilberding, President of Sales, Key Networks, at Jason@keynetworks.com.
This story first appeared on radioinsight.com