Tampa Radio: Ann Kelly Retiring From WDUV After 38-Years

Ann Kelly, the longtime morning host of Cox Media Group’s soft adult contemporary station 105.5 The Dove (WDUV) in the Tampa Bay market, is retiring after a 38-year career.

Kelly has been a fixture on Tampa Bay radio airwaves since the late 1980s, becoming one of the market’s most recognizable and enduring voices. She marked her 30th anniversary with Cox Media Group on Aug. 15, 2018, and has continued as the station’s morning host, delivering a mix of lite favorites, community-focused content, and her signature upbeat style to listeners across the region.

A native of Garfield Heights, Ohio (a Cleveland suburb) and one of five children, Kelly graduated from Bowling Green State University, where she was a member of the National Journalism Honor Society. Her passion for radio was sparked in college by Detroit-area stations. After early stints in Toledo and Syracuse, she arrived in Tampa Bay and spent 12 years co-hosting the Shepherd and Shepherd morning show with her then-husband, Read Shepherd, on Warm 107. 

She later worked afternoons at Magic 94.9 before moving to WDUV, where she took over mornings following the retirement of longtime host Dick Ring in 2012.

Beyond the microphone, Kelly has been deeply involved in the community. She has served on the board of directors for Suncoast Hospice, the leadership council of the Arthritis Foundation, and the board of Religious Community Services. She has volunteered for decades with the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk, the Suncoast Animal League, and other local causes, and has emceed events such as the Abilities Wine Tasting. 

She has also been recognized as Radio Personality of the Year by American Women in Radio and Television and served as honorary chairperson for an Arthritis Foundation 5K. The station itself earned the 2015 AC Marconi Award for Station of the Year during her tenure.

Kelly is known for segments such as “What’s Good in Tampa Bay,” which highlights everyday community heroes, as well as her popular blogs Ann Kelly’s Kitchen and Ann-Ventures, which share recipes, local finds, and lifestyle tips. Listeners have long connected with her authentic, personal approach. 

In a 2020 profile, she emphasized the importance of being real on air and building a personal bond with the audience, noting that Tampa Bay listeners are loyal and vocal about what they want to hear.