Audacy Country “US 99” WUSN Chicago is debuting a new morning show hosted by Melissa McGurren & Austin Huff.
McGurren departed Hubbard Hot AC “101.9 The Mix” WTMX in December after 22 years with the station choosing not to extend her contract. During her tenure at WTMX, McGurren rose from traffic reporter to co-host following the departure of Kathy Hart in 2017.
Huff previously spent his career in Sports radio as a producer for WNSR and WGFX Nashville, WXOS St. Louis, and CBS Sports Radio’s Jim Rome Show. The Nashville native also operates the sports blog KorkedBats.com.
Drew Walker, who has hosted mornings since the exits of Jason Pullman and Katie Bright last June, will move back to middays albeit in a shrunken 9am-12pm shift. Audacy’s syndicated Katie & Company will be shrunk down from 10am-3pm to 12-3pm. Scotty Kay remains in afternoons from 3-7pm, while Audacy’s syndicated Rob Stone & Holly Hutton continue to be heard in evenings from 7pm-12am.
Audacy announced a new morning show for US99 (WUSN-FM) in Chicago, welcoming local media veteran Melissa McGurren and Austin Huff as morning show co-hosts. The duo will be heard on “Melissa and Austin,” weekdays from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. CT, effective May 10.
“We’re incredibly excited to be growing our US99 family and making mornings home for Melissa and Austin,” said Rachel Williamson, Regional President and Market Manager, Audacy Chicago. “This team will bring energy, positivity, chemistry, and a lot of fun to this fresh and dynamic local show to serve Chicago’s country listeners. Drew [Walker] returns to late mornings and middays and will continue to bring the energy and companionship country listeners have grown to love to get them through their day. Collectively, this roster will super serve Chicago’s country music audience as the standalone country station in the market.”
“I wish I could fully express my gratitude and happiness about joining the US99 team,” said McGurren. “I love Chicago and country music and I’ve never been more confident in an opportunity or my team. I know this is exactly where I’m supposed to be, and I couldn’t be happier to make this new move in my career.”
Melissa McGurren spent most of her career on WTMX’s “The Mix Morning Show” in Chicago as a traffic reporter sidekick turned co-host. She also previously spent time as a weekend traffic news anchor for NBC 5 in Chicago and parttime from the NBC 5 helicopter for breaking news and traffic.
“I can’t believe Justin Fields and I are moving to Chicago at the same time, especially considering he throws a much tighter spiral than me,” said Huff. “I’m honored to wake up with this city every morning, and I cannot wait to have a ton of fun in the process.”
Austin Huff is a Nashville native, and country music fan with over 10 years of radio experience both on air and in production.
