Local veteran and community leader Brian Basham has stepped behind the mic as host of the new Country Roots Morning Show on WBIO 94.7.
Airing weekdays from 6-9 a.m. and sponsored by American Legion Post 9, the show blends classic country hits with community-focused segments.
Basham said the program brings to life a dream he has carried since childhood.
“In 6th grade, we took a tour of 96 STO in Owensboro, and I thought it’d be really cool to be in radio,” Basham said. “Later, when I was in the Army, I used to tell buddies that one day I’d love to have a show that just played ’90s country. Luckily, I’m doing it now. The dream has been achieved.”
The show features music from artists such as Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood, Alan Jackson, George Strait, and Toby Keith, mixed with classics from Merle Haggard and Johnny Cash. Basham also weaves in lighthearted segments, including the “Farm Yard Forecast,” “Country Confessions,” and a “Bluegrass Backtrack.”
“It feels good. It feels a little surreal, honestly,” Basham said. “When I met Jordan (the station manager), I told him what my dream was, and he made it happen.”
Basham’s path to the studio wasn’t direct. A Hancock County native, he joined the Army in 2001 and served six years of active duty, including a deployment after 9/11. He later worked in radio sales and broadcasting in California before returning to Owensboro in 2016.
Alongside his on-air role, he remains active as a board member with Veterans Empowered Together, a nonprofit supporting local veterans.
Jordan Yeckering, general manager of Cromwell Media, said Basham’s passion and community involvement made him a natural fit for WBIO.
“When I hire here, I look for people who are passionate,” Yeckering said. “One of the things I picked up on Brian really quickly was his passion for the community. He’s involved in almost everything, and to have somebody like that is just — he’s a great team member.”
Yeckering added that Basham’s show aligns with WBIO’s mission.
“As far as we say, WBIO stands for ‘We Believe in Owensboro,’” Yeckering said. “Classic country fits the bill with the call sign, but it also fits our focus on serving the community.”
