Beasley Media Group and Key Networks have named award-winning country radio personality Kelly Ford as the new host of “Backstage Country,” succeeding current host Shawn Parr.
Based in Nashville, Ford will host the show along with country music artists, who serve as weekly guest hosts. She takes the hosting reins with country group Lady A on Monday, Feb. 26.
Country radio listeners know Ford from her time co-hosting the Nashville-based nationally syndicated country morning show, “Ty, Kelly & Chuck,” for Westwood One. In addition, Ford stands as the only solo female morning show host in the history of country music radio in New York City, as host of “Kelly Ford in the Morning” on the former WNSH, a station she helped launch in 2013. She also hosted a nationally syndicated weekend “90’s Country Show” for Audacy. Ford has earned three broadcasting honors from the CMA’s, an ACM Award, three Gracie Awards, and a Marconi Award.
“Kelly Ford is highly respected by the Nashville music community and loved by the fans of country radio,” Beasley Media Group Chief Content Officer Justin Chase said in a release. “We’re lucky to have her as part of the team building the Backstage Country radio show and BackstageCountry.com brand!”
Key Networks COO Dennis Green, added, “We are excited to welcome Kelly Ford as host of Backstage Country and look forward to a brilliant new year with the energy and fun she brings to the show. Kelly’s authentic and personal approach to country music and trademark wit make her a favorite with male and female country fans of all ages.”
Ford currently hosts a podcast, “The Kelly Ford Show: Nashville Truth," and has built an extensive collection of artist interviews, live on-stage hosting, on-camera work for Extra TV, and content creation for her own company, Force of Nature Creative.
“I'm thrilled to join Backstage Country and humbled to be co-hosting alongside country music's biggest stars,” Ford remarked. “I'm incredibly grateful to Key Networks and Beasley Media Group for entrusting me with this incredible platform that creates a space where artists can open up and share their journeys with fans in a whole new way. I can't wait to dive into their stories and our shared love of country music. Get ready for insider access to never-before-told stories, lots of laughter, and lots of fun!”
Beasley Media Group launched “Backstage Country” in July 2024 with country music artists serving as weekly hosts. The program merged with “Shawn Parr’s Across The Country” in February 2023 and relaunched as “Shawn Parr’s Backstage Country,” with distribution handled by Key Networks. The show is currently heard on more than 80 stations across the country.
“As we welcome Kelly to the Backstage Country team, we want to thank Shawn Parr and his team for producing a top-notch syndicated radio show for the past three and a half years, with Shawn Parr's Across the Country and Shawn Parr's Backstage Country,” Green noted. “Shawn has decided to take his love of raising money for the various charities he supports on the road using his voice as an emcee/auctioneer. We wish Shawn and his team all the best and thank them for their great work on these successful shows.”