WWTN radio announced on Saturday that Nashville talk radio host Phil Valentine has died. He was 61 years old.
The news came in a tweet from the official Twitter account of WWTN radio shortly after 4 p.m. Central Time on Saturday. “We are saddened to report that our host and friend Phil Valentine has passed away. Please keep the Valentine family in your thoughts and prayers,” the station tweeted.
We are saddened to report that our host and friend Phil Valentine has passed away. Please keep the Valentine family in your thoughts and prayers. pic.twitter.com/vhXpE7x0oX
— SuperTalk 99.7 WTN (@997wtn) August 21, 2021
Valentine announced on his Facebook page on July 11, 2021 that he had tested positive for COVID-19.
He was hospitalized several days later, and was subsequently placed on a ventilator.
Former State Senator Mae Beavers (R-Mount Juliet) said Valentine was instrumental in the state income tax fight from 1999 to 2001.
“If it had not been for his voice and others on the radio, people would not have had the information they needed to come and protest the income tax,” Beavers told The Tennessee Star.
“The people showed up, made noise, and we defeated the state income tax. Phil’s legacy will always be the defeat of the Tennessee state income tax.”
“Phil Valentine was an amazing voice and a class act.  He cared genuinely about Americans and wanted to make this country better,” Judson Phillips, an early organizer of the Tea Party movement told The Star.
“In 2010, he graciously agreed to be the master of ceremonies for the keynote dinner for the first National Tea Party Convention.   He was an amazing host who made the event a true success. He supported liberty in a way that few have and he will be missed,” Phillips added.
“For more than two decades, Phil Valentine was an indomitable voice for our conservative values on air. Every Tennessean owes him a debt of gratitude for helping defeat the state income tax & many other big gov proposals. Our prayers are with his family, and he will be missed,” Rep. Mark Green (R-TN-07) said in a statement released Saturday afternoon.
“Phil Valentine was a great friend and a great voice defending our Tennessee values,” former Rep. Diane Black (R-TN-06) told The Star.
“He helped lead the fight to stop the efforts for a Tennessee state income tax. His messaging of common sense and conservative values will be greatly missed. I offer my prayer that his family may find comfort and peace,” Black added.
“Phil Valentine was a visionary for the conservative movement,” Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) said in a statment released on Saturday.
“He made an enormous impact on the lives of many Tennesseans as an esteemed radio host, actor, and author. It was a privilege to know Phil, and I know his legacy will endure. My deepest condolences and prayers are with Phil’s wife, Susan, and his family. May they be comforted and surrounded by love during this difficult time,” Blackburn’s statement added.
Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN) tweeted that Valentine’s strong, conservative voice would be missed. “Chrissy and I extend our condolences and deepest sympathies to the entire Valentine family, Phil’s many friends, and his colleagues and faithful listeners at
@997wtn,” he wrote.
Very sad news for our state! Tennessee has lost a strong conservative voice who will be sorely missed. Chrissy and I extend our condolences and deepest sympathies to the entire Valentine family, Phil’s many friends, and his colleagues and faithful listeners at @997wtn. https://t.co/ArtwZH6iOA
— Senator Bill Hagerty (@SenatorHagerty) August 21, 2021
Valentine was not only an award-winning syndicated radio talk show host he also wrote, produced, and directed the 2012 documentary film An Inconsistent Truth. According to IMDB.com, the documentary won  three film festival awards, including Best Documentary from the Nevada Film Festival.
The website also reported that The Phil Valentine Show won 18 AIR Awards and three New York Festivals awards, including the Gold World Medal for Best Talk Show Host.
Valentine’s website lists him as a former officer and media specialist with the Tennessee State Guard. The website also said Valentine was involved with numerous charities, including the Nashville Rescue Mission and the Safe Haven Family Shelter.
Tim Valentine, who was Phil Valentine’s father, was a U.S. congressman from the Second District of North Carolina, according to Valentine’s website.
FAKE NEWS! He’s still on vacation, right? TELL THE GOSHDARN TRUTH!!!
I will greatly miss Phil. I did not always agree with him but he spoke truth in a dark world. May God bless his family.
I have also listened to Phil since the 1510 days. Praying for the Valentine family! May God’s peace be with you!
And yet people like Nancy Pelosi are still alive. RIP, Phil. You will be greatly missed.
Longtime listener since the 1510 days and I’m so sorry this has happened. My deepest condolences go out to his family and friends.
To the rest of you….Stop letting politics dictate every aspect of your life. God gave you common sense, so use it! Please don’t let the politics of this pandemic claim another life.
My sincere and deepest sympathy for the Valentine family. May God be with you and comfort you.
Very very sad! I kept hoping he would recover. Phil was a voice of reason in a crazy world. May God comfort his family.