Kellie Pickler Will No Longer Host Middays On SiriusXM’s The Highway
Her replacement has been revealed.
Kellie Pickler; Photo Courtesy of Amy Harris
Kellie Pickler has exited her role as an on-air host on The Highway on SiriusXM.
Macie Banks will now host the midday show, airing weekdays from noon to 4pm ET. Banks announced the news on Instagram.
“Hey guys. So you may have just heard us on The Highway, but I’m so excited because I finally get to share something that I’ve been wanting to share for a long time. Starting on Monday, I’m going to be doing middays on The Highway and I’m so excited to be doing this,” she said.
Macie Banks Takes Over Middays
Banks, who joined SiriusXM in 2021, confirmed that she would not be leaving her hosting duties on The Storme Warren Show and that this new show will be her very own.
“I’m still going to be doing the Mornings with Storme. I’m just also going to have some one-on-one time afterward with you. So the show is from 12 to 4 Eastern Time and I’m very excited. Obviously, Storme’s been out this week and past couple weeks… he’s coming back. Nothing different with that, but I guess if you’ve listened, it’s going to be a little taste of what you’ll hear with just me on my show,” she explained. “So it should be interesting, but I’m so excited.”
She later teased that she “more fun stuff” to share and encouraged her followers to tune in to her new show.
Banks Will Still Appear On The Storme Warren Show
The news of Banks becoming the new midday host comes after she revealed she’s expecting her first child with her husband, Cameron Nizialek, who is a football player for the XFL Seattle Sea Dragons.
“We’ve been keeping a secret… 💓 ” Banks and Nizialek wrote in a joint Instagram post. ”She’s gonna be the sweetest thing August ever did see. @camnizguy I love you baby. & I love us. all of us. 🥰 halfway to meeting our baby GIRL! & havin me a glass of wine.”
Exited Prior To Her Husband’s Death
Pickler, 36, reportedly exited the role prior to the death of her husband. According to several SiriusXM listeners, Buzz Brainard confirmed that Pickler would be taking some time away from her midday show in mid-February.
Update: A representative from SiriusXM told Country Now that Pickler’s contract has been fulfilled.
The news comes to light weeks after her husband, Kyle Jacobs, was found dead in the couple’s Nashville home on February 17.
Kyle Jacobs, 49, was a producer and a songwriter that has written songs for dozens of country superstars, including Trace Adkins, Jo Dee Messina, Craig Morgan, Tim McGraw, Kellie Pickler (his wife), Clay Walker, Kelly Clarkson, Scotty McCreery, and many others. He was also a co-writer on Garth Brooks’ single “More Than A Memory,” which became the first song to debut at Number One on Billboard’s Country Singles chart in its entire history.
Pickler has remained silent and has yet to release any statements following Jacobs’ death.
Joined In February 2022
Kellie Pickler began hosting SiriusXM’s The Highway midday show (12-4pm) in February of 2022 via satellite (ch. 56) and on the SXM App.
“I am so excited to join the SiriusXM family as a host on The Highway,” Pickler shared at the time. “This is such a fun and amazing opportunity to really connect with Country music fans across North America. I’m looking forward to sharing some of my current favorite songs and artists, along with chatting with some very special guests!”
Rose To Fame After American Idol
Pickler is best known for her RIAA Gold-certified debut album, Small Town Girl, released in 2006, which features three Top 20 singles “Red High Heels,” “I Wonder” and “Things That Never Cross A Man’s Mind.” She is also known for her RIAA Platinum-certified single, “Best Days Of Your Life.”
In May of 2013, Pickler and her dance partner, Derek Hough, were declared the winners of the sixteenth season of Dancing With The Stars. She later went on to be inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall Of Fame.
From 2017 through 2019, the chart-topping singer served as the co-host of Pickler & Ben, a nationally syndicated talk show that has earned five Emmy nominations.
As an actress, she has also appeared in several films and TV shows, including Christmas at Graceland, The Mistletoe Secret, 90210, Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk, Wedding at Graceland and more.
SiriusXM’s The Highway plays new Country music including the hottest country superstars, up-and-coming artists, and the very latest discoveries direct from Nashville.
SiriusXM is available to subscribers in their car, on their phone and connected devices at home with the SXM App. Streaming access is included for most subscribers. Go to www.siriusxm.com/ways-to-listen to learn more.
Photos courtesy TheTravelAddict.com.
Lauren Jo Black is a longtime country music journalist, editor, host, and media personality whose work has helped shape the conversation around country music for nearly two decades. As the current Editor-in-Chief of Country Now, she has become one of the genre’s most respected voices, interviewing hundreds of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and countless others. Over the course of her career, Black’s written work and interviews have reached billions of country music fans worldwide. A 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida, Black began her career by founding Country Music Is Love, one of country music’s earliest independent digital publications, which she later sold to a major record label in 2015 before it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. She then served as the publication’s Editor-in-Chief for more than two years. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, and she previously served as the Country Music Expert for Answers.com. Widely recognized for her expertise, Black has appeared as a featured guest on The Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and Scripps News Morning Rush, providing insight on country music’s biggest moments. She has also hosted Country Now Live, a concert series featuring performances from artists including Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Chris Young, and more. The series has welcomed thousands of fans in person while reaching millions more online. In addition, she hosted Connect With Country Now, a weekly interview series featuring conversations with rising country stars. Throughout her career, Black has earned a reputation for discovering and championing artists long before they become household names. She has covered Luke Bryan since the early days of his career, beginning when he was writing songs for other artists, including Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “Good Directions,” before stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, “All My Friends Say” and eventually becoming one of biggest names in music. She also gave Megan Moroney her first opportunity to walk a major red carpet as Country Now’s official guest correspondent at the 2022 CMA Awards. An interview she conducted in 2018 for Forbes.com with Luke Combs that inspired his multi-week No. 1 hit, “Doin’ This.” She has also hosted stages at CMA Fest, moderated an industry panel at Country Radio Seminar, and helped lead important conversations about the evolving landscape of country music media. Beyond journalism, Black has also used her platform to support charitable causes and highlight organizations making an impact. Through Country Now Live, she has helped raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while also advocating for animal rescue through Country Now’s Pupdate series, spotlighting organizations including MuttNation Foundation, Wags & Walks, and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. Black has been recognized as one of Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. She is a longtime member of both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). After nearly 20 years covering country music, Lauren Jo Black has spent her career telling the stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that have shaped the genre. Her first-ever book, Country Music Forever: An A-to-Z Celebration of Icons, Songs and Stories, brings that same passion and firsthand knowledge to the page, celebrating not only the legendary artists and timeless songs that have become the soundtrack to generations of fans, but also the places, traditions, and cultural moments that have made country music one of the most beloved genres around the world.
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