The 5 Best Country Music Stations in Houston
If you’re a country music fan in Houston, you’re in luck! Here are the five best country music radio stations in the city.
KILT-FM
KILT-FM is a country music radio station in Houston, Texas. The station is owned by Entercom and broadcasts at 100.3 MHz. KILT-FM has been on the air since 1965 and is currently the only country music station in Houston. The station plays a mix of contemporary and classic country music.
Station History
KILT-FM (100.3 MHz “The Bull”) is a commercial FM radio station in Houston, Texas. It is owned by Entercom and airs a country music radio format. The studios and offices are on Enterprise Street in Northwest Houston.
The transmitter is off Griggs Road in the Sunnyside section of Houston. KILT-FM broadcasts in HD Radio hybrid digital mode. Its HD2 subchannel carries a classic country music format, while its HD3 subchannel simulcasts the sports radio programming of sister station KILT (610 AM).
On December 1, 1948, the station first signed on as KTRH-FM. It was the FM sister station to KTRH (760 AM). Both stations were owned by Frank scrapes and his family’s Scrapes Radio Company. From the beginning, the two stations simulcast most of their programming, with the AM carrying news and sports during the day and adult standards at night, while the FM played beautiful music throughout the day and evening hours.
Programs and Hosts
KILT-FM (100.3 MHz) is a commercial FM radio station in Houston, Texas. It airs a country music radio format and is owned by Entercom. The studios and offices are on the Southwest Freeway in Sharpstown.
The transmitter site is on top of Westmount Drive in unincorporated northwest Harris County, Texas. KILT-FM broadcasts in the HD Radio hybrid format. Its HD2 subchannel carries a classic country music format, while its HD3 subchannel airs real country music from the 1970s, ’80s and ’90s. By day, KILT-FM has an effective radiated power (ERP) of 25,000 watts. But at night, to avoid interfering with other stations on 100.3 MHz, it greatly reduces power to 560 watts.
Programs and Hosts: “The bull” 100.3 KILT-FM from 6a-10a The Charlie Chase Show from 10a-2p Jody Dean from 2p-6p American Country Countdown with Kix Brooks
Notable On-Air Personalities
KILT-FM (100.3 MHz) is a commercial FM radio station in Houston, Texas. It is owned by Audacy, Inc and airs a country music radio format. The studios and offices are on Winburn Drive in Northwest Houston. The transmitter site is off Pine Forest Lane, also in Northwest Houston.
KILT has been a country music outlet for over 50 years. The station was originally owned by the now-defunct Harte-Hanks Communications. For many years, it was one of two country stations in Houston, the other being KNUZ-FM (now KODA). On January 25, 2010, at Noon, after stunting with Christmas music as “Kilowatt 100.3,” KILT-FM became “The Bull @ 100.3” with a new moniker and logo (but retaining the callsign), becoming one of several “Bull” branded country stations owned by CBS Radio. On February 2, 2017, at 5 PM, after stunting with classic country hits as “100.3 Hank FM,” KILT-FM rebranded as “100.3 The Bull.”
Notable on-air personalities include:
-Rita Wells: Middays 10 am – 3 pm
Weekdays 10 am – 3 pm
Rita Wells joined KILT in June 2010 from KLOL where she did evenings and weekends. Rita is originally from Gonzales, Texas but has called Houston home since 1995 when she started her first radio job at then KHMX Mix 96.5 as a weekend overnight hostess before taking over the evening shift in 1997 which she continued until 2000 when she moved to mornings from 5:30 – 10 am until 2003 when she left radio for several years to be a fulltime mom to her two boys.(info from en.wikipedia.org)
KASE-FM
KASE-FM is a country music radio station in Houston, Texas. The station is owned by Entercom and broadcasts at 100.3 MHz on the FM dial. KASE-FM has been on the air since 1983 and is the only country music station in Houston that is owned by a major radio group. The station’s transmitter is located in Missouri City, Texas.
Station History
KASE-FM (101.9 MHz) is a commercial FM radio station in Austin, Texas. It airs a country music radio format and is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc. The studios and offices are on Spicewood Springs Road in Northwest Austin.
The transmitter site is off Farm to Market Road 969 in unincorporated Travis County near Pflugerville. KASE-FM broadcasts using HD Radio technology. Its HD2 subchannel carries iHeartCountry, a 24/7 country music service from iHeartMedia.
KASE-FM has its roots in two earlier country music stations, KVET-FM (98.5 MHz) and KXET (1260 kHz). In the 1970s, the frequencies were swapped and KVET became AM 1260 while the FM station took the 98.5 MHz dial position. The AM station was sold off and is now KFNX, an all-sports radio outlet in Phoenix, Arizona.
In 1992, the call letters were changed to KNIX-FM as a simulcast of KNIX-AM 1070 in Tempe, Arizona. By 1994, KNIX had split into two co-owned radio stations with different formats: KNIX-FM became “The Touch,” an adult contemporary station while KNIX-AM became “Kool Radio,” an oldies outlet.
In December 1995, the call letters were changed to KYSR as “Star 98.7.” It was an adult contemporary station that leaned hot adult contemporary, similar to sister stationsin other markets such as WALK-FM on Long Island and WLTW in New York City. The “Star” moniker referred to the lyrical line from “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.” In May 2000, under new ownership by Clear Channel Communications (now iHeartMedia), KYSR shifted from adult contemporary to classic hits, branded as “Oldies 108.”
On March 4, 2009, at 5 PM after stunting with Christmas music for six weeks using the branding “Rudolph 108,” KYSR dropped its oldies format and began stunting with 60s pop music until March 16 when it took thecountrymusic format and KASE call letters from 101.1 MHz in Brenham, Texas (now KBNN). That station is now rhythmic contemporary KBUE “Que Buena 105.5.”
Programs and Hosts
KASE-FM is a country music radio station in Houston, Texas. The station is owned by Cumulus Media and broadcasts at 101.7 MHz. KASE-FM has been on the air since 1963 and is currently the only country music radio station in Houston.
The station’s programming includes a mix of country music, news, weather, sports, and traffic. The station’s hosts include morning show host Greg Miles, midday host Amy Everett, afternoon drive host Darci Lynch, and evenings and weekends hosts Scott Phillips and Country Music DJ Cody Stoots.
Notable On-Air Personalities
KASE-FM is a country music radio station in Houston, Texas. The station is owned by iHeartMedia and airs a Country format.
KASE-FM’s on-air personalities include:
-Nancy Everhart: Middays
-Scott Sparks: Afternoons
-Jenn Blosil: Evenings
-Kelli Douglas: Nighttime
-Trish Biondi: Overnights
KNBT-FM
KNBT-FM is a country music radio station in Houston, Texas. The station is owned by Entercom and broadcasts at 92.1 MHz. KNBT-FM has been on the air since March 1, 1972. The station is known for its country music format and is one of the most popular country music stations in Houston.
Station History
KNBT-FM (92.1 MHz “The Bull”) is a commercial FM radio station licensed to New Braunfels, Texas, and serving Greater San Antonio. It is owned by iHeartMedia and airs a country music radio format. The station’s studios and offices are on Lookout Drive in San Antonio.
The transmitter is off FM 306 in Garden Ridge, Texas. KNBT-FM broadcasts in the HD Radio hybrid format. Its HD2 subchannel carries a mainstream rock format branded as “Rockstar 92.1.”
On January 25, 1963, the station first signed on as KBOP-FM, simulcasting the country music of its sister station KBOP 1350 AM (now KGNB). The two stations were owned by George Oakes & Partners. In 1973, the call sign was changed to KNBT-FM.
Programs and Hosts
Programs:
Music row: (weekdays 6am-10am) features upcoming artists, interviews, and live in-studio performances. Hosted by CMA award winning radio personality country music DJ, Bart Crow.
The long ride home: (weekdays 4pm-7pm) features music and stories from the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s, as well as current hits. Hosted by Matt Martin.
Saturday mornings: (Saturday 6am-10am) an upbeat way to start your weekend with music, trivia, and contests. Hosted by Jay Marks.
Sunday mornings: (Sunday 7am-11am) wake up with Gospel music and inspirational messages.
Hosts:
Bart Crow – Music Row
Matt Martin – The Long Ride Home
Jay Marks – Saturday Mornings
Gospel HQ – Sunday Mornings
Notable On-Air Personalities
Matt Martin – Afternoons
Heather Collins – Nights
Weekends feature a variety of local DJs
KKBQ-FM
KKBQ-FM is a country music radio station in Houston, Texas. The station is owned by iHeartMedia and broadcasts at 93.7 MHz. KKBQ has been ranked as one of the top 5 country music stations in Houston.
Station History
KKBQ-FM (92.9 FM, “The Bull”) is a country music radio station in Houston, Texas. The station is owned by Entercom Communications and its studios are in Greenway Plaza.
The station began life as KAAM-FM on August 8, 1961. It was the FM counterpart to KAAM 770 AM, which had been on the air since February 27, 1960. The station originally broadcast an easy listening format.
In the late 1970s, the station adopted a disco music format as “Disco 92”. In 1979, the station evolved into an adult contemporary music format as “K-Bay 92”.
On July 5, 1983, at Midnight, after playing “We’re An American Band” by Grand Funk Railroad, the station became KNUZ-FM and adopted a country music format branded as “Zebra Country”. The first song on “Zebra Country” was “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” by Hank Williams.
Programs and Hosts
KKBQ-FM is a country music radio station in Houston, Texas. The station is owned by iHeartMedia and broadcasts at 92.5 MHz.
The station’s programming is mostly focused on contemporary hit country music, although it also airs some classic country programming on weekends. The station’s daytime lineup includes the syndicated Bobby Bones Show in the mornings, followed by local hosts midday, Afternoons with Frog and Katie in the afternoon, and nights with Tige & Kristi. Weekends feature a mix of local DJs and syndicated shows.
Some of thestation’s most popular programs and hosts include:
-The Bobby Bones Show: A syndicated morning show hosted by country music artist Bobby Bones.
-Afternoons with Frog and Katie: A local afternoon show hosted by frogman Mark Owens and Katie Rose.
-Tige & Kristi: A local evening show hosted by Tige Brewer and Kristi Powers.
-The Big D and Bubba Show: A syndicated country music show that airs on weekends.
Notable On-Air Personalities
Some of the most notable on-air personalities currently working at KKBQ-FM include:
-Matt Houston: Matt Houston is the host of the station’s flagship morning show, “Houston’s Morning Show.” Houston has been with KKBQ-FM for over 20 years and is one of the most recognized voices in country radio in Houston.
-Cindy Woods: Cindy Woods is the midday host on KKBQ-FM. She has been with the station for over 10 years and is a familiar voice to listeners during her midday show.
-Big Al: Big Al is the host of the afternoon drive show on KKBQ-FM. He has been with the station for over 5 years and is a popular personality with country music fans in Houston.
KHYI-FM
KHYI-FM is a country music radio station in Houston, Texas. The station is owned by iHeartMedia and broadcasts at 95.3 MHz. KHYI-FM has been on the air since 1973 and is one of the most popular country music stations in Houston.
Station History
KHYI-FM (“95.3 The Range”) is a commercial country music radio station serving the Houston metropolitan area. The station is owned by Audacy, Inc. and licensed to Waller, Texas. The station’s studios are located in Uptown Houston, while its transmitter site is in Missouri City, Texas.
KHYI-FM first went on the air on March 15, 1994 as KJOJ-FM “95.3 Joe FM”. The station was a simulcast of then-sister station KJOJ 1240 AM (now KCOH). On May 1, 1996, the call letters were changed to KYKR and the station adopted a country music format as “95.3 The Cowboy”. Three months later, on August 1, the call letters were again changed – this time to KKCW – and the station became “95.3 The Coast”, simulcasting adult contemporary-formatted KHYS 106.5 FM (now KBXX).
Programs and Hosts
KHYI-FM is a country music radio station based in Houston, Texas. The station is owned by iHeartMedia and airs a mix of contemporary and classic country music.
The station’s programming is led by its morning show, The Charlie & Julie Show, hosted by Charlie Stewart and Julie Tristan. Other notable programs and hosts include Texas Two Step with Randy James, The Midday Show with Cindy McKay, and The Road with Kevin & Debbie.
KHYI-FM also offers a wide variety of music-based content on its website, including artist interviews, concert listings, and more.
Notable On-Air Personalities
KHYI-FM is Houston’s go-to country music station, and it’s easy to see why. With popular on-air personalities like Scott Sparks and Nancy Wilson, plus a great mix of music, KHYI-FM has something for everyone.
But KHYI-FM isn’t the only great country music station in Houston. Here are five more that are worth tuning into:
1. KILT-FM – This station is known for its “Texas Country” format, which features a mix of traditional and contemporary country music. Notable on-air personalities include Lisa Smith and Matt Martin.
2. KNBT-FM – This station bills itself as “The New 93Q,” and it features a mix of contemporary and classic country hits. On-air personalities include Jake Byrd and Amy Winehouse.
3. KKBQ-FM – This station plays a mix of modern and classic country hits, with a focus on new artists. Notable on-air personalities include Ashleigh Bloomingdale and Zachary Ryan.
4. KYGO-FM – This station is one of the most popular country music stations in the nation, thanks to its mix of contemporary hits and classic favorites. On-air personalities include Steve Harper and Nancy O’Dell.
5. WBAP-AM – This station has been broadcasting country music since the 1940s, making it one of the oldest stations on this list. Notable on-air personalities include Skip Hollandsworth and Dale Hansen.
