The “John Boy & Billy Big Show” announced this morning that it will end its decades-long radio run at the end of the year.
“It looks like it in the form that we are right now, The Big Show we will be retiring at the end of the year, and want to thank all the stations that are still carrying us,” co-host “John Boy” Isley said on the program. The show invited listeners to follow its Facebook page, hinting that it will continue in some form.
“Thank you to all of your listeners,” show member Jackie Curry-Lynch added. “There are kids that have been listening since junior high school, and adults that have had their kids and grandkids listen, and could not have done it all these years without the listeners.”
Isley and Billy James started the show on WBCY Charlotte in 1980 before moving to WRFX, which was the show’s flagship radio station until November 2024. Two months earlier, Premiere Networks signed a new syndication deal with the show, which is on nearly 50 mostly classic rock stations nationwide, in addition to its dedicated channel on iHeartRadio.
“I can confirm that The John Boy & Billy Show will conclude at the end of 2025,” a Premiere Networks spokesperson told Inside Radio. “Since launching their top-rated program in 1980, John Boy Isley and Billy James have played a pivotal role in shaping the radio syndication landscape. For nearly 25 years, they’ve been an integral part of the Premiere Networks family, entertaining millions and leaving a lasting legacy. As they head into retirement, we celebrate their remarkable legacy and wish them all the best in this next chapter as they enjoy some well-deserved time off.”