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, a University of Central Florida graduate, has immersed herself in the world of country music for over 15 years. In 2008, she co-founded CountryMusicIsLove, eventually selling it to a major record label in 2015. Following the rebranding of the website to Sounds Like Nashville, Black served as Editor-in-Chief for two and a half years. Currently, she assumes the role of Editor-in-Chief at Country Now and oversees Country Now’s content and digital footprint. Her extensive experience also encompasses her previous role as a Country Music Expert Writer for Answers.com and her work being featured on Forbes.com. She’s been spotlighted among Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. Black also spent time in front of the camera as host of Country Now Live, which brought live music directly to fans in 2021 when the majority of concerts were halted due to the pandemic. During this time, she hosted 24 weeks of live concerts via Country Now Live on Twitch with special guests such as Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Jordan Davis, Brett Young, and Jon Pardi. Over the course of her career, she has had the privilege of conducting interviews with some of the industry’s most prominent stars, including Reba McEntire, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson, and many others. Lauren Jo Black is a longtime member of the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.
You may also like
Country Next
Playlist
On Repeat
Get the latest country music news delivered straight to your inbox.
