Longtime Lexington host of ‘Officer Don and DeAnn’ laid off in national iHeartMedia cuts
Longtime Lexington morning radio host DeAnn Stephens says she will be departing from the station, as part of nationwide iHeartMedia layoffs announced this week.
Stephens, co-host of the weekday morning show “Officer Don and DeAnn” on 98.1 The Bull WBUL, announced the change on her Facebook page Thursday. Stephens, who began hosting the morning show in 2008, and co-host Don Evans are award-winning hosts for the country radio station. They have twice won the CMA “Broadcast Personality of the Year” award.
“I’ve met some great people, been blessed with some really cool experiences, and made a best friend in Don Evans,” Stephens wrote in her post. “We’ve spent every weekday morning together for the past 18 years, and will be best of friends for the rest of our lives.”
Stephens began her broadcasting career in Eastern Kentucky at the Mountain Station in Hazard, before moving to Lexington to work for the local CBS affiliate. There, she began as a morning reporter before becoming an anchor. After 13 years in television news, Stephens made the move to radio in 2008. She also hosts “Out & About with DeAnn” on FOX56, according to her station information page.
Stephens did not immediately respond to a request for comment, and the future of the morning show is not yet clear. Evans’ biography page is still available on the radio station’s website. Stephens wrote that “for now, you can still find us on FOX 56 News.”
iHeartMedia, the national radio broadcaster, is eliminating jobs across the country as part of a cost-saving restructuring, Billboard reported. Previously, the company made cuts to its management and sales positions, and began laying off on-air positions this week.
Hundreds of positions were eliminated across the country, including longtime Louisville radio host Nick Coffey at 840 WHAS, who was also a host on WKRD, Coffey posted on Facebook. Locally, Nathan Nelson, who worked as vice president of programming at WBUL, was also affected, according to RadioInsight.
Thanking those who supported the morning radio show, Stephens said she’s grateful for her time at the station.
“I’m proud of my time in radio but my worth certainly isn’t in a job,” Stephens wrote. “I pray the other hundreds of people also let go this week realize their worth as well. I thank God for every step in this journey. I thank YOU for listening to ‘Officer Don & DeAnn’ in the mornings.”