The Syndicated Rick and Bubba Show To End This Year

The “Rick & Bubba Show” is calling it quits after 30 years, but fans of the popular morning radio show needn’t fret just yet. Hosts Rick Burgess and Bill “Bubba” Bussey have promised to remain on the air through the end of the year.

“We have decided that this will be the final year of the ‘Rick & Bubba Show,’ Burgess, 59, said on Thursday’s program, which is nationally syndicated and produced at WZZK-FM in Birmingham. “There it is. I just said it right out.”

“That’s it, and that’s the deal,” said Bussey, 59. “We will finish out this year, and we’re going to go wide open and have a great year, and have a lot of flashbacks and memories, and talk about the last 30 years that, by the way, you folks have made possible. And we don’t discount that.”

The two promised to make their final year on the show “a celebration,” looking back at the past and emphasizing the things that have made “Rick & Bubba” beloved by listeners.

“We’re not wrapping the show up today and everybody walking away,” Burgess said. “We’ve got a long runway. We’ve got a whole year to spend together — reminisce, talk, and I think we all agree, that’s where we need to focus, on celebrating all that has taken place. In this business, 30 years of the same product and very little change in the lineup is unheard of.”

The duo also made sure to thank their devoted listeners, in Alabama and elsewhere, for making the show a success.

“We’ve been very blessed, and you folks have been the ones who have blessed us, and we really appreciate it,” Bussey said. “There’s not words, there’s not actions I can do to fully transfer the feelings I have. I just don’t know how to say it. But we really appreciate it. It’s been incredible.”

Heading off questions from listeners, Bussey emphasized that everyone on the show is in good health, and said there’s no rift behind the scenes between the hosts.

“We are all fine here. We are friends. We will remain friends,” Bussey said. “There’s nothing bad here. This is just where we are, and it’s been a wonderful long run, and it had to end sometime. And this is the time.”

The “Rick & Bubba Show,” founded in 1994, airs live on weekdays, 5 a.m.-10 a.m., on more than 60 radio stations across 18 states, according to the WZZK website and the “Rick & Bubba” YouTube channel.

“The Rick & Bubba show quickly gained traction among listeners with its blend of humor, insightful commentary, and genuine camaraderie. Their down-to-earth ‘Southern’ approach resonated with audiences, and the show’s popularity soared, earning them a devoted local following.