Veteran journalist and radio talk show host Brian Wilson was named the permanent host of Nashville’s Morning News, which airs weekdays from 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m, on Tuesday.
The announcement was made on-air at 8:45 a.m. by Supertalk 99.7 FM WTN program director and mid-day host Dan Mandis.
“In 30 years of radio I’ve never seen a new host accepted in a new city the way Brian has been accepted,” Mandis said.
“I am thrilled to be here. I love Nashville. WTN is like a family. Very much like Nashville. I love working with Michael DelGiorno and Dan Mandis, and the crew on the morning show, producer Chris Webber, traffic reporter Michael Vance and news anchor Ken Weaver,” Wilson added.
Wilson stayed after the end of his program to appear briefly on the Michael DelGiorno Show, which airs on WTN from 9:00 am to noon on weekdays.
When he signed on at 9:06 am, Del Giorno said he was excited to have Brian Wilson as WTN’s new morning man.
“I am thankful Brian has accepted the job,” DelGiorno added.
Cumulus Media, which owns WTN, issued a press release announcing Wilson’s hiring simultaneous to the on-air announcement by Mandis.
You can read that statement here:
Cumulus Media announces that it has signed veteran broadcaster Brian Wilson as the Host of Nashville’s Morning News on Nashville’s premier News Talk radio station SuperTalk 99.7 WWTN-FM, airing weekdays from 5:00am-9:00am. Wilson heads to Nashville from Washington, D.C., where he was most recently Co-Host of the popular morning show on Cumulus News Talk station WMAL-AM/FM.
Wilson previously served as a senior correspondent and anchor for the FOX News Channel. Based in the nation’s capital, he covered the White House, Capitol Hill, and everything in between. Prior to his time at FOX News. Wilson co-anchored the Emmy Award-winning FOX 5 Morning News on WTTG in Washington, D.C. He has twice served as chairman of the 2500 member Capitol Hill Radio TV Correspondents Association and graduated with distinction from American University with a Master’s Degree in Print Journalism. A native of Odessa, TX, Wilson began his career in radio news and racked up a string of statewide awards when he was only 19. Wilson began his television career in Amarillo, TX, at the age of 21 and spent time as a reporter and anchor in Mobile, AL, before moving to Washington, D.C. in 1986.Dan Mandis, Program Director, SuperTalk 99.7 WWTN-FM, said: “Brian has spent decades telling stories, whether covering the White House in Washington, D.C. or local stories from America’s heartland, and he’s seen it all. As Brian has been covering Nashville’s Morning News on WWTN, listeners have already been responding to his perspective and insights. I’m thrilled that he’s committed to moving to Nashville and hosting Nashville’s Morning News full time. He’s a great addition to an already outstanding radio station.”
Wilson said: “Even though I was born in Texas and spent the bulk of my professional career in Washington, D.C/, I always felt at home when I visited Nashville. Beyond the great music scene, I’ve been impressed with the friendliness and common sense of the folks here. I’m thrilled to be out of the Washington swamp and to be establishing roots in Music City. I’m also pleased to renew my association with Cumulus. Thanks to my old Cumulus boss in D.C., Bill Hess, and Cumulus/Westwood One EVP of Content & Programming Mike McVay, for their instrumental role in making this happen. I look forward to working with my new Nashville bosses, Allison Warren, Charlie Cook, Dan Mandis — and WTN’s top-flight morning team — to make Nashville’s Morning News the dominant show in its time slot. In Nashville, they often say that the formula for a good Country song is, “three chords and the truth.” I’ll leave the guitar playing to the Nashville Cats, but I’ll do my very best to give Music City the truth as best I can discern it.”
Allison Warren, Vice President/Market Manager, Cumulus Media-Nashville, said: “Today’s announcement helps solidify SuperTalk 99.7 as Nashville and Middle Tennessee’s premier live and local news talk station. Nashville and Middle Tennessee residents craving topical and relevant news, weather and traffic are about to be challenged, entertained and engaged like never before.”
About WWTN-FM
WWTN is Nashville and Middle Tennessee’s local source for News, Traffic, Weather, and Talk. With a 100,000 watt FM signal, WWTN is heard daily in over 45 counties in Middle Tennessee, Northern Alabama, and Southern Kentucky. WWTN’s programming remains LIVE and LOCAL from 5am-7pm with Nashville’s Morning News’ newest Host Brian Wilson from 5am-9am, Michael DelGiorno from 9am until Noon, The Dan Mandis Show from Noon until 3pm and Phil Valentine’s award-winning show from 3pm until 7pm.About Cumulus Media
A leader in the radio broadcasting industry, Cumulus Media (PINK: CMLSQ) combines high-quality local programming with iconic, nationally syndicated media, sports and entertainment brands to deliver premium content choices to the 245 million people reached each week through its 446 owned-and-operated stations broadcasting in 90 US media markets (including eight of the top 10), approximately 8,000 broadcast radio stations affiliated with its Westwood One network and numerous digital channels. Together, the Cumulus/Westwood One platforms make Cumulus Media one of the few media companies that can provide advertisers with national reach and local impact. Cumulus/Westwood One is the exclusive radio broadcast partner to some of the largest brands in sports, entertainment, news, and talk, including the NFL, the NCAA, the Masters, the Olympics, the GRAMMYs, the Academy of Country Music Awards, the American Music Awards, the Billboard Music Awards, Westwood One News, and more. Additionally, it is the nation’s leading provider of country music and lifestyle content through its NASH brand, which serves country fans nationwide through radio programming, exclusive digital content, and live events. For more information, visit www.cumulus.com.
I’ve been listening to WTN since the early 90’s. Everyone from Teddy Bart, to Terry Taylor, to Phil Valentine, to Daryl Ankarlo, to Steve Gill, to Ralph Bristol, to Brian Wilson. I can honestly say, the most annoying, incompetent, ignorant, (did I mention annoying?) host of WTN Morning drive time is by far, Brian Wilson.
That damn bell. His stammering. Sounding like he is slobbering all over himself.
And the annoying stories and sound effects. It’s foggy in Nashville – do you really need to play the fog horn over, and over, and over again? We get it, Brian. And the scooter Jetsons sound effect… And the story that keeps expanding grows more unbelievable. This clown needs to go. I woke up this morning to that idiot promoting his asinine “Catfish” song. Go back to Washington, Brian. Your song sucks! You are NOT a Nashvillian. Get off the radio. Mandis – fire this clown.
Glad to be hearing you on the radio. Here is a link that you may find of interest since this is your type of subject. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVXHHrkS1S4&t=8s
He has done a great job–glad they made it permanent. His segments on our adulteress mayoress are really in depth and good
I listened to him for years when I worked in D.C. Missed him when he left WMAL 105.9 FM. Good to see he has a new gig. he is a bit of a libertarian conservative w/ a little L, which is a good thing in my opinion.
I’ve enjoyed listening to Brian Wilson and wish him the best at his new position.
GREAT JOB BRI!
I have listened to Mr. Wilson on a number of occasions while he has been “filling in” during his new time slot. I have nothing personally against Mr. Wilson but I find his topics and delivery lacking when compared to his predecessor. Hopefully that will improve as he adjusts to being in Nashville but this is one WTN listener that will opt out if improvement does not come soon.
Have the Beach Boys quit touring?
Why would Nashville’s premier talk radio station, which has historically been decidedly conservative, hire a talk radio host from “Mordor on the Potomac”, Washington, D.C.? Is it more of the “lefts” effort to further tarnish the buckle of the Bible Belt? Maybe if they had waited a few weeks, Mayor Barry would have been looking for work and available!
Of course, in full disclosure, WTN, has been replaced by The TN Star, CRTV and the Patriot channel on Sirius/XM in our household/car since Ralph supported the IMPROVE Act and gas tax.
John, I hope his new job does not keep him off the road! Maybe since he is on the radio he will bless us with his magical singing talents.