Providence RI Radio: John DePetro EXITS N/T WPRO-AM

Providence Journal photo

John DePetro, popular conservative radio talk show host, is leaving Cumulus Media's WPRO 630 AM / WEAN 99.7 FM,

In a post to his personal blog Saturday, DePetro announced he has decided to “conclude” his weekday talk show, which airs from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. DePetro had previously cited a “health situation” as the reason he was off air for much of December, according to WPRI-TV12.

“Thank you to all my listeners for making 2016 my best year ever in radio, with my coverage of the Trump campaign, my many exclusives, plus my national work on The Savage nation and CNN,” DePetro wrote. “I am very grateful for the many loyal listeners who have been entertained by my program on WPRO over the past 10 years.”

Statement from John DePetro December 24, 2016:

To all my WPRO radio listeners : At this time, I have decided to conclude my entertaining weekday 9:a.m.-12pm (noon) radio show on WPRO.   

Thank you to all my listeners for making 2016 my best year ever in radio, with my coverage of the Trump campaign, my many exclusives, plus my national work on The Savage nation and CNN. I am very grateful for the many loyal listeners who have been entertained by my program on WPRO over the past 10 years. 

While at WPRO, I was very proud to win " Best Talk Show" by the Associated Press in 2008 and 2014. I was honored to be voted " Best Talk Show" by the readers of Rhode Island Monthly for 2014.   

It was also life changing to be part of raising money for Hasbro Children's Hospital, the Gabrielle heart fund, Jason Foreman scholarship fund and many others. I am eternally grateful to my Executive Producer Kool Keith, anchor Bill Haberman, engineers Dave Farrah, Duffy Egan, all my clients, sponsors and the people at WPRO. Merry Christmas and Happy New year.   

Thank you. 

John DePetro 

DePetro, a Rhode Island College graduate, is one of the most well-known media personalities in the state. But his sharp tongue has also landed him in hot water in recent years, with high-profile Democrats launching a boycott of most the station’s hosts after comments DePetro made about women.

For Our Daughters, the union-backed group that organized the boycott, posted a statement on Facebook after DePetro’s announcement:


DePetro’s departure leaves a significant hole in WPRO-AM’s daily lineup. The station’s afternoon drive-time host, former Providence Mayor Buddy Cianci, died earlier this year.