Former “US99” WUSN morning co-host and “Big 95.5” WEBG midday host Lisa Dent is returning to Chicago radio as afternoon co-host on Nexstar News/Talk 720 WGN.
Dent will join Steve Bertrand in the 2-6pm slot starting Monday, January 3, 2022. She has been in Chicago radio since 2002 when she began a fourteen year run co-hosting mornings at WUSN. She then joined WEBG as midday host in 2018 until its flip to Rock in September 2020. Prior to joining WUSN, Dent co-hosted mornings at KSON San Diego, WBOB-FM Minneapolis, KYCW Seattle, and KIKK-FM Houston. She has served as a fill-in host at WGN since January 2021.
The new lineup will see morning host Bob Sirott’s show move back an hour from 5-9am to 6-10am. John Williams will concurrently move back from 9am-1pm to 10am-2pm. Bertrand, who has been anchoring a news focused block from 4-7pm will join Dent from 2-6pm. A new financial show, “WGN Radio’s Money Matters” will debut in the 6pm hour.
Current 1-4pm host Anna Davlantes will shift into the role of investigative correspondent for WGN. The station states her special reporting covering news stories in-depth will be heard across all dayparts.
On January 3, WGN Radio will debut a new weekday programming schedule. The station has also hired longtime radio personality Lisa Dent, who will be heard weekday afternoons.
“Lisa Dent has long been a significant and well-known presence in Chicago radio,” said WGN Radio Vice President and General Manager Mary Sandberg Boyle. “Her vibrant personality and warmth, understanding of the city and an ability to authentically connect on a personal level with listeners makes her a natural fit for afternoon drive on WGN as we embark on our 100th year of being the voice of Chicagoland.”
A native of Rockford, Lisa Dent began her radio career in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin in 1981. She has worked at stations in Minneapolis, San Diego, Seattle, and Houston. Dent returned to Chicago in 2002 and previously hosted at country music stations WUSN 99.5, US99, and Big 95.5. Lisa Dent was inducted into the Country Radio Hall of Fame in 2016. Dent has been heard as a fill-in host on WGN Radio since January.
Veteran Chicago journalist and Northwestern alumna Anna Davlantes will assume the role of investigative correspondent with special reporting, covering news stories in-depth. Davlantes will continue to be heard frequently across the station’s dayparts.
“Anna Davlantes’ impeccable resume includes decades of award-winning investigative reporting. Few rival Anna’s commitment to serving the public in anticipating, exposing, and breaking important stories,” said Sandberg Boyle. “We are fortunate to have her expertise at WGN Radio.”
Beginning January 3, WGN Radio’s weekday programming schedule is:
4am – 6am: WGN-TV simulcast
6am – 10am: Bob Sirott
10am – 2pm: John Williams, including the Wintrust Business Lunch at noon
2pm – 6pm: Chicago’s Afternoon News with Lisa Dent and Steve Bertrand
6pm – 7pm: WGN Radio’s Money Matters (airing early 2022)
7pm – 10pm: John Landecker
