Detroit Radio: Dr. Don Carpenter Leaving WYCD Morning Show

Dr. Don

Dr. Don, longtime host on CBS RADIO’s Country WYCD 99.5 FM, today announced he would be taking on a new role with the station.

His last morning show broadcast will be Friday, August 7.

“This is my last week on the morning show here at 99.5 WYCD,” said Dr. Don.  “As many people know, I have my own business and have been looking to write a couple books. CBS RADIO has come up with an incredible deal that'll let me spend more time doing that while still being part of the WYCD family. I'm not resigning and I'm definitely not retiring. In fact, I will be around for special broadcasts and you'll hear me on commercials for the companies I have endorsement deals with. I just won't be on the air every morning. I want to thank CBS RADIO and all of you for having faith in me. This is not goodbye. It's more like ‘see you around.’”

“We thank Dr. Don for all the wonderful things he’s done for the Detroit community and the professional broadcaster he’s been over the years,” said Debbie Kenyon, Senior Vice President and Market Manager, CBS RADIO Detroit.  “Doc has entertained and created many laughs for our WYCD listeners.  His relationship with the country artists, fun loving spirit and dedication to our community made his show fun to listen to every morning.  Additionally, he’s helped so many charities including the Ronald McDonald House, American Diabetes Association, American Cancer Society, United Way, St. Jude, Susan G. Komen and many others.  We look forward to our continued partnership for years to come.”

“Dr. Don has been such an integral part of everything we do at WYCD and waking up country music fans in Detroit with a smile for many years,” said Tim Roberts, WYCD Operations/Program Director.  “There’s a reason he was voted into the Country Radio Hall of Fame last year - he totally deserves the recognition.  The good news for everyone is he will still have a presence on WYCD and continue to do good work in our community.”

Dr. Don originally joined the nationally awarded WYCD in 1993, and has been the morning host for the last 10 years.  He is joined by co-hosts Rachael Hunter, Steve Grunwald and Jason Raithel.

An announcement regarding a new addition to the WYCD morning show, broadcast weekdays from 5:00-10:00AM, ET, is forthcoming.

Carpenter, an Oklahoma native who has also worked in radio in Missouri, Florida, Iowa and Pennsylvania, was inducted into the Country Radio Music Hall of Fame in 2013.

He joined the Detroit station in 1993 as an afternoon host when it was all-talk WOW 99.5 FM, and has hosted the 5-10 a.m. morning show for the past 10 years. Carpenter also worked for Hubbard Broadcasting’s WUBE 105..1 FM in Cincinnati from 2000 to 2004. He also writes "The Dr. Don Prepsheet" as a source of news and comedy for radio stations.

Carpenter's move to a part-time role comes amid nationwide personnel cutbacks by CBS Radio that saw 13 staffers trimmed from New York City-based radio network’s five Detroit stations. The network has cut 200 jobs in recent weeks, according to industry reports.