November 3, 2025 News@CountryAircheck.com

You Dropped The Palm On Me: Radio vet Todd Violette has been named OM for Connoisseur/Palm Springs, CA's eight stations and PD for Country KDES. He succeeds Dax Davis, who joined the company's San Antonio market as DOS last month. Violette's prior stops include 10 years with iHeartMedia in Indianapolis and St. Louis. In Nielsen's Spring diary ratings, KDES earned a 1.8 share (11t) in Palm Springs behind format leader KPLM's 5.2 (5).

Beard Cheered: Oldies WSJD/Mt. Caramel, IL sales rep and host of the station's longtime Saturday morning Rodger's Country Gems show Rodger Beard is retiring Jan. 10 after a five-decade on-air career in Southeastern Illinois and Southwestern Indiana. He's hosted his Classic Country show for almost 30 years on various stations. Reach him here.

Benefit News: The Country Music Association (CMA) has made a $3 million donation to Belmont University to support the launch of its Center for Mental Health in Entertainment. Led by new Endowed Chair/Exec. Dir. Debbie Carroll, formerly VP/Entertainment & Specialized Services at Onsite, the Music Row-based initiative will serve both students and industry professionals. Additionally, the CMA has renewed its financial support for Amber Health, ECCHO Live, Music Health Alliance, MusiCares and Porter’s Call in offering mental health services to the music industry.

Special Delivery: Premiere's Granger Smith will host the network's After MidNite Friendsgiving Special, a four-hour, barter-free show available for affiliates and open markets to air between Nov. 20-30. Music and holiday-themed conversations with Luke Combs, Carrie Underwood, Morgan Wallen and others will be featured. Interested stations can contact Premiere here.

Contact Update: Former WUBL/Atlanta morning co-host Brian Moote has joined Audacy Rhythmic AC WSTR/Atlanta for afternoons. Moote left WUBL's Moote, Kimmie & Otis Show last year amid iHeartMedia layoffs (CAT 3/20/24). He previously worked at Cumulus' KPLX/Dallas. Reach him here.

ICYMI: Drew Baldridge, Colbie Caillat and Mickey Guyton are among the artists performing during the 99th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, airing on NBC Nov. 27.

Ashley McBryde, Trisha Yearwood, Kathy Mattea and more were featured on CBS Saturday Morning's segment on the women who shaped the Grand Ole Opry.

Life Notes: Former WZZK/Birmingham PD/midday host Mike "Sandman" Sanders lost everything in a condominium fire in Birmingham on Oct. 31, including 30 years of photos and career memorabilia. A GoFundMe account has been set up by his sister; donate here. See local coverge of the fire here. Sanders plans to relocate to Nashville in early January. Reach him here.

Linda Ruppel, mother of WITL/Lansing, MI Dir./Content Jonathan “JR” Ruppel, died Nov. 1 at the age of 77 after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer. See her obituary and Nov. 5 funeral details here. Reach JR here.

Country Aircheck Today Top 5: Here are the Top 5 songs for the week ending Nov. 1, according to Mediabase 24/7.

LUKE COMBS/Back In The Saddle (Columbia)
CHASE MATTHEW/Darlin' (Warner/WAR)
JACKSON DEAN/Heavens To Betsy (Big Machine)
MORGAN WALLEN/I Got Better (Big Loud)
LAINEY WILSON/Somewhere Over Laredo (Broken Bow)

JD_WEB_HeavensToBetsy_MaxSpinsNow_CADailyTower_160x600_2025.10.27_FNL[37].jpg

Country Aircheck Top Point Gainers: Here are the top point gainers for Nov. 2, compared with the same day last week, according to Mediabase 24/7.

JACKSON DEAN/Heavens To Betsy (Big Machine) +1288 points
GEORGE BIRGE/It Won't Be Long (Records Nashville) +413 points
MEGAN MORONEY/6 Months Later (Col. NY/Columbia) +386 points
MORGAN WALLEN/20 Cigarettes (Big Loud) +365 points
BLAKE SHELTON/Stay Country Or Die Tryin' (Wheelhouse) +340 points

Tomorrow's Birthdays (11/4): Delbert McClinton, Kim Forester (The Forester Sisters), Gregg Lindahl, Cindy Owen, the late Van Stephenson.

Slow Dance In A Par: MCA's Jordan Davis (c) with iHeart's Rod Phillips (l) and WQIK/Jacksonville's Scot “Froggy” Langley at Froggy's Drive For Research golf tournament.

US99 Problems: Broken Bow/Night Train's John Morgan visits WUSN/Chicago. Pictured (l-r) are the station's Kyle Milnamow and Austin Huff, Morgan and the station's Melissa McGurren.

Side Of Ranch: Sony Music Nashville's McCoy Moore (c) with WPCV/Lakeland, FL's Bob Walker and the label's Ali O'Connell at The Music Ranch.

Here For The Boos: Columbia/Records Nashville's Ty Myers with WKHK/Richmond, VA's Carletta Blake and son Zander on Halloween.