Iconic Radio Personality Kidd Kraddick Has Died

Kidd Kraddick

It has been confirmed that Kidd Kraddick passed away Saturday afternoon in New Orleans at a golf tournament organized to raise money for his beloved Kidd’s Kids charity.

He was 53 and a brain aneurysm is believed to have been the cause.

KHKS KISS-FM 1061. FM owner Clear Channel said in a news release.

The statement was attributed to Kelly Kibler, Clear Channel’s Dallas manager.

“He died doing what he loved, and his final day was spent selflessly focused on those special children that meant the world to him,” the statement read.

“Kidd devoted his life to making people smile every morning, and for 21 years, his foundation has been dedicated to bringing joy to thousands of chronically and terminally ill children,” the company said.


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Kraddick has been a staple in the Dallas market since his late-night debut in 1984 on “The Eagle” KEGL-FM (97.1). But his ascension to mainstay status began in 1992, when he moved to Kiss-FM and began broadcasting his morning show. By 2001 the show was syndicated, and, according to his website, is heard in more than 100 cities and originated from his studio in Las Colinas.

The Marconi Award-winner’s brand expanded even further in recent months when he and his morning crew were added to Dish Nation, a syndicated TV show.

The staple of North Texas radio since 1984, he broadcast his nationally syndicated "Kidd Kraddick in the Morning" radio show from a studio at Las Colinas.

The final tweet posted on his official Twitter account was a promotion for his "Kidd's Kids" charity concert at the House of Blues on August 15. The proceeds will be used to send children with chronic or terminal ilnesses to Disney World.

In a twist of irony, Kraddick did a radio segment just last week on "what he would say to each member of the show in his final moments on earth" as a comedy bit.

"Have you ever thought about those last moments of your life?" he asked his radio crew. "Nobody wants a long, lingering illness; nobody wants just that; but it would be nice if you could have a day or two where you know it's coming."

He then spent several minutes saying goodbye to each member of his on-air staff.

"When I die, you have permission to take a bunch of creepy pictures of my body," Kraddick said. "I want to thank all of you guys for being at my deathbed today. I'm going to miss you so much."

In 1991, Kraddick founded the 501(c)3 charity, The Kraddick Foundation, which is dedicated to helping impact the lives of children who have terminal or chronic illnesses or are accident victims. It consists of "Kidd's Kids," which takes a planeload of these children (age 5-11) and their families to Walt Disney World for 5 days every November. In 2010, the charity grew to include "The Glamour Squad" which visits hospitals around the country and provides a day of pampering inside the hospital for teenage girls. Listeners of the Kidd Kraddick in the Morning show donate money one day a year on "Kidd's Kids Day" to help fund these projects.

Kraddick was divorced and had one daughter, attended the University of Miami.