November 9, 2026 News@CountryAircheck.com

Peachy Keen: Former Riverbend Top 40 KFTZ/Idaho Falls, ID PD/afternoon host Brenden "Peaches" Peach has been named PD/morning co-host at Reno Media Group KOLC/Reno, NV, effective Nov. 16. He succeeds Robbie Owens, who moved to KTWB/Sioux Falls, SD in September (CAT 9/10). Prior to KFTZ, Peach programmed Rock KCVI/Idaho Falls. He shared on social media, "I feel incredibly fortunate to have found such an unexpected opportunity. Radio is what I love, it’s what I know, and I couldn’t be more excited to continue doing what I’ve spent so many years working toward!"

Steele Departs: Legacy Media/Georgia Radio Alliance VP/Programming and WEKS/Zebulon, GA afternoon host Kevin Steele has stepped down, but will continue to consult the company through the end of the year. Chad "Chadalac" Feltman will take over afternoon drive, returning to the shift he previously held for 10 years. Feltman has handled middays and sales since April. Steele, who joined the company in 2017, is pursuing his next opportunity and can be reached here. No word on plans for the programming role.

Downtown Abby: Former Black River Mgr./A&R Abby Miller has joined management company Borchetta Entertainment Group as Head/Artist Development, where she will work with artists including Carly Pearce, The Band Perry, Easton Corbin, Mark Collie, Molly Tuttle, Yung Gravy, John Foster, Terror Reid and Getter. Prior to joining Borchetta Entertainment Group, Miller led her own consulting business, In The Pocket Entertainment, and served as Talent Mgr. for The Digital Department.

Sweet Treat: Sweet Talk Publicity's newly expanded team includes Account Exec. Abbey Frederick, Jr. Account Exec. Hailey Johnsen and Coord./Publicity LillyMarie Smith. Frederick (email here) joins after a five years in the luxury fashion industry, Johnsen (email here) got her start at Las Vegas-based agency Wicked Creative and Smith (email here) joined Sweet Talk after graduating from Belmont University, where she interned with BMLG, UMG and JonesWorks.

Gig Alert: Leighton Media is seeking a PD/air personality for KZPK/St. Cloud, MN to succeed Kris Valentine, who recently moved to a new position with Hubbard (CAT 10/30). The job requires three-to-five years of programming and on-air, with Country credentials a must. Salary range is $60,000-$80,000, depending on experience. See the job posting and apply here.

Sleigh Ride: Just 18% of respondents prefer radio stations to begin all-Christmas programming in early November, according to P1 Media Group's annual America's Top 100 Christmas Songs study, which surveyed 400 listeners ages 25–54 across the top 50 radio markets. That 18% figure is down from 23% in 2025 and 31% in 2024. Meanwhile, 56% of Christmas music fans now prefer stations wait until Thanksgiving or later, compared with 49% in 2025. While holiday music fans increasingly prefer a later start, many still want the music to extend beyond Dec. 25; 42% of respondents prefer all-Christmas programming to continue through New Year's Eve, although that percentage has declined from 48% in 2025 and 52% in 2024. Another 33% would prefer stations end Christmas programming on Dec. 26, while 20% favor Christmas Day. Find the full survey, that includes the all-genre top 100 Christmas songs, here.

Tour Support: Dylan Marlowe Tour kicks off March 3 in Knoxville with opener Cody Lohden. Tickets go on sale Wednesday (11/11) here.

The first leg of Cody Jinks and The Tonedeaf Hippies' The Working Man Tour begins Feb. 3 in Hollywood, FL; tickets here Wednesday (11/11). Designed to keep live music "affordable and accessible," groups of four will be able to attend for $100–$150.

Gavin Adcock has added three headlining shows and two festival appearances in Australia in March to his The Day I Hang It Up Tour. Tickets here Nov. 13.

Zach Top and The Red Clay Strays will co-headline Washington's Gorge Amphitheatre July 2. Tickets available Friday (11/13) via Ticketmaster .

Lock, Stock & Barrel: Jason Aldean, Treaty Oak Revival and Lauren Alaina will perform at the March 5-6 stops of Bass Pro Shops' 19-date Bulls, Bands, & Barrels touring event at Lourdes Stadium in Lafayette, LA. Kicking off Jan. 9 in Evansville, IN and running through June, the event includes bull riding, barrel racing, bullfighting and live country music. Tour stops will feature performers including Jon Pardi, Parker McCollum, Tucker Wetmore, Sam Barber, Kameron Marlowe, Justin Moore, Priscilla Block, Tyce Delk, The Jack Wharff Band, Tyler Braden and Vincent Mason. Tickets (11/13), cities and lineups here.

Bits & Pieces: Hubbard KPNW/Seattle morning host Tanner Chambers dedicated his show today (11/9) to a fundraising effort for Northwest Battle Buddies, which provides a professionally trained service dog to veterans in need. Donate here.

Beasley WQYK/Tampa and three of its local sister stations have teamed for a four-week Holiday Toy Drive through Dec. 12 when the four stations join forces at gaming hall Win! Derby in St. Petersburg for one final day of giving. The event benefits the Children's Home Network. Donate here.

ICYMI: The Robin Roberts-executive produced documentary Darius Rucker: They Called Me Hootie premieres Nov. 16, on Hulu, Hulu on Disney+ and Disney+; trailer here.

Craig Morgan will be making his first appearance as a USO Global Ambassador at the America250 x USO Celebration of Service event Veterans Day in Atlanta.

Chronicle: Singer Mark McGuinn, best known for his 2001 Top 10 hit "Mrs. Steven Rudy" on VFR Records, died Oct, 26 at the age of 58. Funeral services were held Nov. 8. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations to the MusiCares Foundation or to Christ United Methodist Church (410 N. Holden Rd.) in Greensboro, NC. See his full obituary here.

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

ELLA LANGLEY/Loving Life Again (Sawgod/Col. NY/Triple Tigers)
ZACH JOHN KING/Get To Drinkin' (SMN)
KOE WETZEL f/ELLA LANGLEY/Jaded (Col. NY/Records Nashville)
DAN + SHAY/Say So (Warner/WRN)
LUKE COMBS/Rethink Some Things (Columbia)

Country Aircheck Top Point Gainers: Here are the top point gainers for Nov. 8, compared with the same day last week, according to Mediabase.

KENNY CHESNEY/Remember Me That Way (Hey Now) +424 points
RUSSELL DICKERSON/Worth Your Wild (Triple Tigers) +418 points
THOMAS RHETT/Be There In A Minute (51/49/Blue Highway) +412 points
LAINEY WILSON & JOHN MAYER/Phone, Keys, Wallet (Broken Bow) +324 points
STELLA LEFTY & VINCENT MASON/Something To Lose (Sandlot/Atlantic Outpost) +261 points

Tomorrow's Birthdays (11/10): Miranda Lambert, Brian Henningsen (The Henningsens), Chris Cagle, Donna Fargo, Joe Carroll, Carol Turner, Alicia Harvey, Scott Gaines, Mike Carroll, the late Jay J. McCrae.

Shay Cheese: Dan + Shay's Dan Smyers (l) and Shay Mooney (r) with KUZZ/Bakersfield's Ness Heraldez and Brent Michaels in Anaheim, CA.

On-Air Force: KXKT/Omaha's Hoss Michaels, Steve Lundy and Gina Melton (l-r) help collect more than 10,465 cards for the VA hospital and Offutt Air Force Base.

Lone Haul: West To The Rest/Triple Tigers' Ian Munsick at Billy Bob's Texas (top) and a KLLL-presented show in Lubbock, TX. Pictured (top, l-r) are TT's Chris Palmer, KASE/Austin & KAJA/San Antonio's Jason McCollim, Munsick and TT's Julianna Vaughn; (bottom, l-r) KLLL's Mudflap and Katie Jo, Munsick and KLLL's Jeff Scott.

Troop, There It Is: KKBQ/Houston's 10,000 For The Troops campaign collects 11,234 items for deployed service members. Pictured (l-r) are the station's Andy "Riggs" Riggle, Katelyn Maida and Erica Rico and reps from Boots for Troops.

Lone Stars: The Texas Radio Hall of Fame Class of 2026 (CAT 8/14), including Doug Abernethy, Dave E. Crockett, Diane Day, JoJo Cerda and James Paczkowski, Kevin Kline, Eric Raines, Clyde “Kooter” Roberson, Chrissie Roberts, J.D. Rose and Barry Wolverton, are inducted Saturday (11/7) in Kilgore, TX.

Signage: Singer/songwriter Tenille Arts (c) signs with MPI Talent Agency. Pictured with the company's Jordan Tubiolo and Music Creative Management's Casadie Pederson.