HAYDEN, Idaho – Glen Campbell dreamed about going into broadcasting at an early age. Like many boys growing up in southern California, Campbell was a Dodger fan. “I was a huge fan of the L.A. Dodgers’ Hall of Fame announcer Vin Scully, and I just knew that one day I was going to replace him as the Dodgers play-by-play announcer,” shared Campbell.
Well, he didn’t achieve his boyhood dream of taking over for Vin Scully, but he has enjoyed a broadcasting career spanning several decades and has now earned himself a nomination for Radio Personality of the Year from Inspirational Country Music Awards.
The nomination comes from his work hosting “The Rhinestone Highway” program every weekday afternoon which airs across the country, including locally at Today’s Christian Country station KYMS 89.9 FM.
Campbell views his radio work as a ministry. “For the first time in my life, I am at a radio station where I can play great music and talk about Jesus, all at the same time. It’s awesome.” His passion for sharing both is obvious to anyone who spends a little time with him.
He was nominated for the radio personality award by artist Steve Bridgmon who has recorded 15 Top Ten singles, of which six are number one hits. Bridgmon himself is up for five separate nominations at this year’s Inspirational Country Music Awards set for May 29 at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Tennessee. Bridgmon won Artist of the Year in 2017.
Campbell has plans to travel to Nashville with his wife Karen to participate in the ceremony where he is also slated to be an award presenter, as well as a judge for a new-talent competition. “It is an honor just to be nominated,” he stated. “Karen encouraged me to attend, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime kind of thing.”
Early in his career, Campbell was dubbed “the blue-eyed brother of soul” when he became the first white DJ on a soul music station in San Bernardino, California, known as KVCR-FM Black Radio Workshop. He’s done everything from public address announcements for Little League to on-air work at a rock and roll radio station to sports announcing for an all-news station. “Eventually I moved to a classic country radio station on Sunday mornings and developed a show called “God’s Country,” a mix of country and southern gospel music,” Campbell shared. “I started at Today’s Christian Country in 2018 and I have been truly blessed to be part of God’s vision for this station ever since.”
Radio broadcasting has become very versatile and most programs can be done anywhere without the need to be “in-studio” at the station. Campbell said that when he started in the 1970s the industry used records, then carts, then CDs. “But those all required you to be in-studio,” he explained. “Today, because of computers, we can format the entire schedule and we can do it from anywhere.” This allows Campbell to work from a home-based studio and gives flexibility to his schedule.
In addition to his radio gig, Campbell plans to start voice-over work for audio books and advertising, and his wife will be partnering with him. “This is something that Glen and I can do together,” Karen said. “Today’s Christian Country, that’s his ministry and it’s amazing, but it will be exciting to do the voice-over work together.”
As a nonprofit radio station, those who invest their time and talents are not making money doing it. “We do it because we love the Lord and we love to see people’s lives changed,” Campbell shared. “We get calls and emails from all over the world. I do the afternoon drive and include dad jokes, fun facts, and trivia. But more importantly, at the 3:30 spot, I get several minutes to just talk to people directly about God’s grace and how their lives can be changed.”
His show “The Rhinestone Highway” is a nod to his namesake Glen Campbell, the country singer, songwriter, and guitarist whose hit song “Rhinestone Cowboy” made it to the Top 40 charts. The country star played guitar for the Beach Boys and hosted The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour on CBS television from 1969 until 1972. “When I was in high-school, Glen Campbell was very big,” chuckled Campbell.
Campbell can be reached at glen@todayschristiancountry.com, and readers can listen to “The Rhinestone Highway” program from 2 to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday on Today’s Christian Country station KYMS 89.9 FM or at todayschristiancountry.com.
Update June 7, 2024 – Glen Campbell won the 2024 Radio Personality of the Year Award. “It was a complete surprise to see my name on the screen in the top five. Then to hear my name called as the winner was truly a surreal experience. What a surprise it was! And what an honor!” exclaimed Campbell. “To be at this prestigious place, the Grand Ol’ Opry with my beautiful wife Karen and to win the award was one of the greatest experiences I’ve ever had!”
The award ceremony was held in the nostalgic Ryman Auditorium at the Grand Ol’ Opry in Nashville in front of an audience of 2000 people.
Campbell was pleased that the radio station he works for was also recognized for their programing. “I received a double blessing when Today’s Christian Country won the award for Radio Station of the Year. To be recognized nationally is a very special honor!”
