New Country 95.7 K-Best

Weeknights from 7 PM – 12 AM

&

Saturdays from 7 PM – 12 AM

What did you want to be when you were 5? And really…what kid actually gets to be the astronaut, rockstar, explorer, or radio host?!? Whitney Allen, that’s who! Her parents bought her a red transistor radio (that she slept with under her pillow every night) and adopted her first cat, Thomasina (who slept with her every night.) That’s when she knew, it was radio or animals. Since she was better at talking than biology, she knew she was going to be on the radio. So at the age of 5, she set out to make it BIG.

Before her first radio gig, Whitney heard a DJ who sounded like a woman that wanted to steal your boyfriend. If Whitney was going to be a DJ, that was not the sound she was going for. KATA in Eureka, California was the first station to give her a shot on the air. There, Whitney spent 2 years in place of that exact girl that wanted to “steal your boyfriend.” When she had enough of the northern California rain, Whitney headed south to San Diego. Warming up not just in the sun, but on CHR’s two hottest stations, nostalgia, AC and her first foray into country. Then the call came in…

Pirate Radio in Los Angeles. No two better things could have happened at the same time in Whitney’s life: a ground-breaking station being led by Scott Shannon, in her hometown of Los Angeles where she always dreamed of making it BIG. Then KIIS-FM in Los Angeles came along. For 3 years she hosted nights, middays, filled in and even co-hosted some mornings with the legendary Rick Dees. Still…there were bigger plans to come.

Blair Garner who worked at KIIS with Whitney, left to start his syndicated show “After Midnite.” He asked Whitney to join him, so she became the host of “After Midnite Weekends with Whitney Allen” for 8 years, on over 200 country stations.

Staying in her hometown, Whitney became the afternoon drive host at KZLA…but she was already bitten by the syndicated bug. So with only weekends free, “The Big Time Saturday Night” was born. As the business goes, KZLA flipped formats. Instead of dwelling on the past “The Big Time with Whitney Allen” was launched, and now, 6 years later, Monday through Friday on 150 stations.

Now, 6 nights a week, on The Big Time and The Big Time Saturday Night, Whitney hangs out and occasionally…ok, often, harasses listeners and artists. She gives credit to the chaotic (and usually drunk) team behind her, because The Big Time is too BIG for one person to handle. It really takes listeners, artists, music and a dream team to make Whitney’s dream come true.

When she’s not on the radio, or backstage at the biggest country concerts, Whitney loves the outdoors, redecorating, napping, and Mexico. Her furry kids, Paloma, Leela, and Ramon, But Mattie, Flue and Chakita live in her heart forever. And the cats Luna and Winchmore (no we didn’t name her ). Luckily, even without a degree in veterinary medicine, with the power of radio, she still gets to help animals through different charities. And, in keeping her promise to never sound like the girl that wants to steal your boyfriend, she’s got a man of her own.

Saturdays from 8 AM – 12 PM

Ryan Fox is the host of American Country Countdown. While he may be a Texan now, he has lived all over this country…everywhere from Oklahoma to Los Angeles, where he graduated from the University of Southern California. As a father of three boys and husband to his awesome wife Amber, Ryan mixes his experience with his authenticity and everyday life experience to connect with Country music fans around the U.S. and across the globe. So what can you expect with Ryan Fox behind the wheel of American Country Countdown? Big name guests like Jelly Roll, Morgan Wallen, Lainey Wilson, and Keith Urban. Plus, big name celebs from beyond Country and into the world of entertainment. American Country Countdown is about America and everything that American’s are talking about. With lots of energy and lots of fun, and big name stars stoppin’ in, 4 hours fly by every weekend on American Country Countdown!

Sundays from 8 AM – 10 AM

John Ritter has been directly involved in the music business since he was a young child. At eight years and before ever having a voice lesson, he was singing in church and talent contests. His natural-born musical ability continued to improve during high school where he played the bass guitar and sang with several local bands. After attending Saint Petersburg Junior College, he received his Master’s Degree in Speech Pathology from the University of South Florida.

In 1980, after taking a vacation to Lake Tahoe, John made the decision to pursue his music career out West playing the Nevada circuit. During that time he became friends with Colin Ray who was pursuing the same career. In addition to his work on the circuit, John has recorded sessions with Anita Pointer of the Pointer Sisters and Sony Music VP Paul Worley.

After 11 years as a successful Nevada entertainer, John decided to stop entertaining and move back to Florida with his wife, Bobbie and their two children, Lindsey and Johnny. He built a 24-track recording facility and began the positive country music show Rise Up. The success of that show allowed John to hook up with Ken Cooper to form “Cooper & Ritter,” which ran as a very successful morning show on the legendary Q105 for six years. Rise Up eventually moved to Tampa’s Award Winning WQYK, 99.5 where it was re titled “Rise Up Country” and distributed nationally. Rise-Up Country can now be heard on over 150 great radio stations across America.

Rise Up’s mission statement is to tell people not to give up, that God loves them and there is hope. John likes to say it’s where we get our weekly dose of inspiration and a message of hope. John wants to see families stay together; and as a proud dad, one of the most important messages he hopes to convey is to love your children. He knows how precious family can be. John and his wife Bobbie almost lost their son, Johnny to a violent attack, so they’ve learned to appreciate every moment with their children and the power of prayer.

In addition to hosting the Rise Up Country show and running his production studio, John has also continued to pursue his writing abilities and has several songs to his name, including the theme songs for the Q-Morning Zoo radio show, “Beautiful Downtown Lutz,” and the Tampa Bay Buccaneer Fight Song, “Hey, Hey, Hey, We’re the Buccaneers.” Each month he spends some time in Nashville where he writes songs with artists and other song writers. He has songs recorded by Craig Morgan, Aaron Tippin and Tracy Lawrence.

“The Rise Up Country” Show is about God, family and country. So don’t give up … just Rise Up on Sunday mornings!”