{"id":496880,"date":"2026-06-26T16:56:10","date_gmt":"2026-06-26T16:56:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/496880\/"},"modified":"2026-06-26T16:56:10","modified_gmt":"2026-06-26T16:56:10","slug":"longtime-lexington-host-out-at-98-1-the-bull-after-layoffs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/496880\/","title":{"rendered":"Longtime Lexington host out at 98.1 The Bull after layoffs"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"DeAnn<\/p>\n

DeAnn Stephens in 2017.<\/p>\n

Rich Copley<\/p>\n

rcopley@herald-leader.com<\/p>\n

Longtime Lexington morning radio host DeAnn Stephens says she will be departing from the station, as part of nationwide iHeartMedia layoffs announced this week.<\/p>\n

Stephens, co-host of the weekday morning show \u201cOfficer Don and DeAnn\u201d on 98.1 The Bull WBUL, announced the change on her Facebook page Thursday<\/a>. Stephens, who began hosting the morning show in 2008, and co-host Don Evans are award-winning hosts for the country radio station. They have twice won the CMA \u201cBroadcast Personality of the Year\u201d award.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve met some great people, been blessed with some really cool experiences, and made a best friend in Don Evans,\u201d Stephens wrote in her post. \u201cWe\u2019ve spent every weekday morning together for the past 18 years, and will be best of friends for the rest of our lives.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"DeAnn DeAnn Stephens and Don Evans with their CMA Awards for small-market personalities of the year. Rich Copley rcopley@herald-leader.com <\/p>\n

Stephens began her broadcasting career in Eastern Kentucky at the Mountain Station in Hazard, before moving to Lexington to work for the local CBS affiliate. There, she began as a morning reporter before becoming an anchor. After 13 years in television news, Stephens made the move to radio in 2008. She also hosts \u201cOut & About with DeAnn\u201d on FOX56, according to her station information page.<\/a><\/p>\n

Stephens did not immediately respond to a request for comment, and the future of the morning show is not yet clear. Evans\u2019 biography page is still available on the radio station\u2019s website. Stephens wrote that \u201cfor now, you can still find us on FOX 56 News.\u201d<\/p>\n

iHeartMedia, the national radio broadcaster, is eliminating jobs across the country as part of a cost-saving restructuring, Billboard reported<\/a>. Previously, the company made cuts to its management and sales positions, and began laying off on-air positions this week.<\/p>\n

Hundreds of positions were eliminated across the country, including longtime Louisville radio host Nick Coffey at 840 WHAS, who was also a host on WKRD, Coffey posted on Facebook<\/a>. Locally, Nathan Nelson, who worked as vice president of programming at WBUL, was also affected, according to RadioInsight.<\/a><\/p>\n

Thanking those who supported the morning radio show, Stephens said she\u2019s grateful for her time at the station.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m proud of my time in radio but my worth certainly isn\u2019t in a job,\u201d Stephens wrote. \u201cI pray the other hundreds of people also let go this week realize their worth as well. I thank God for every step in this journey. I thank YOU for listening to \u2018Officer Don & DeAnn\u2019 in the mornings.\u201d<\/p>\n


\n \"Profile
\n <\/a><\/p>\n

Monica Kast<\/a><\/p>\n

Lexington Herald-Leader<\/p>\n

Monica Kast covers higher education for the Herald-Leader and Kentucky.com. Previously, she covered higher education in Tennessee for the Knoxville News Sentinel. She is originally from Louisville, Kentucky, and is a graduate of Western Kentucky University.
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