650 AM WSM announced today that Jeff Hoag, regular fill-in and long-term friend of iconic radio personality Eddie Stubbs, will officially take over the night show in wake of Stubbs’ previously announced retirement. A familiar voice to the station’s nighttime audience, Hoag is set to host WSM At Night With Jeff Hoag from 7 p.m. to midnight beginning this evening.
Hoag grew up with a deep passion for country music and has since dedicated his life to the genre and its rich history. Learning guitar, mandolin, banjo and harmonica at a young age, Hoag was able to tour the world playing music while also honing his skills behind the microphone at various radio stations from the age of 20.
Hoag said, “My dream in life was to work for WSM Radio and keep the tradition of classic country music alive. The fact that I get to live my dream and carry out this mission is gratifying beyond words. Thank you for the opportunity to do what I love and to spread the glorious gospel of country music across the world.”
WSM Director of Content and Programming J. Patrick Tinnell said, “WSM at Night is exactly where Jeff belongs. I along with the rest of his radio family, can’t wait to see how he develops his own live
Hoag was born in upstate New York and made his way to Nashville in 2003. His mission has always been to share his love of traditional country music with those who already appreciate it, but especially those who may have never given it a chance. An avid collector and historian of music, Hoag is also a songwriter, musician, script writer, food enthusiast and baseball fan.
About WSM:
650 AM WSM is the most famed country music station in the world. Each day, the station shares country, bluegrass and Americana as well as the excitement of Music City with friends in Middle Tennessee and listeners around the world. WSM debuted on Oct. 5, 1925, and less than two months later, the station would birth its most famous show (and the show that would make country music famous), the Grand Ole Opry. WSM has gone on to become a broadcasting giant and a friend to hundreds of thousands of fans. The station has won hundreds of broadcasting awards and was named Country Radio Station of the Century by “Radio & Records” in 2000. WSM’s personalities are nationally recognized figures in country music, and its listeners range from U.S. Presidents to Country Music Hall of Famers, to artists climbing the charts toward their first number one hit. You never know when a famous listener might drop in for a visit or to take the studio’s reigns for a while. For more information, visit wsmonline.com.
About Ryman Hospitality Properties:
Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc. (NYSE: RHP) is a leading lodging and hospitality real estate investment trust that specializes in upscale convention center resorts and country music entertainment experiences. The Company’s core holdings* include a network of five of the top 10 largest non-gaming convention center hotels in the United States based on total indoor meeting space. These convention center resorts operate under the Gaylord Hotels brand and are managed by Marriott International. The Company also owns two adjacent ancillary hotels and a small number of attractions managed by Marriott International for a combined total of 10,110 rooms and more than 2.7 million square feet of total indoor and outdoor meeting space in top convention and leisure destinations across the country. The Company’s Entertainment segment includes a growing collection of iconic and emerging country music brands, including the Grand Ole Opry; Ryman Auditorium; WSM 650 AM; Ole Red and Circle, a country lifestyle media network the Company owns in a joint venture with Gray Television. The Company operates its Entertainment segment as part of a taxable REIT subsidiary.
*The Company is the sole owner of Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center; Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center; Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center; and Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center. It is the majority owner and managing member of the joint venture that owns Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center.