Turning Point USA founder and news/talk radio and podcast host Charlie Kirk was laid to rest on Sunday afternoon, in a massive funeral at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
Generally, funerals aren’t riveting radio, especially for a spoken word format like news/talk radio.
But this funeral was atypical. Charlie Kirk, gunned down while speaking at an event at Utah Valley University, was only 31 years old. He leaves behind a wife, two children, and a legacy as a political activist, accomplished podcaster, and radio host.
Furthermore, the event was a who’s who of Republican dignitaries, politicians, and media members. President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance spoke to the more than 70,000 in attendance. Secretaries Marco Rubio, Pete Hegseth, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. also delivered messages, as did Tucker Carlson.
One of the more powerful speeches was made by Kirk’s widow, Erika, who was recently named his successor as CEO of the Turning Point USA organization he founded. Kirk revealed that she had forgiven the assassin who killed her husband, arguing that that is what Charlie Kirk would have wanted her to do.
Around the nation, more than 30 iHeartMedia news/talk stations carried the event live on Sunday afternoon, with comprehensive coverage beginning at 2 PM ET.
And iHeartMedia Executive Vice President of News, Talk, and Sports Programming Chris Berry believed as soon as the shooting occurred that this was a monumental moment for the company’s dedicated audience.
“For talk radio, the assassination of Charlie Kirk quickly became not just another news story; it became a defining event for our listeners, one that touches on politics, culture, faith, and the national conversation about free speech and public life,” Berry said.
Obviously, the shooting and death of Charlie Kirk was a jarring moment for millions. And in the process of grieving Kirk, Berry shared that it was paramount for the company’s stations to be there as a friend and trusted source for news and information surrounding the situation.
“Coverage of the memorial service allowed our listeners to grieve collectively and hear directly from leaders and others who share in their loss,” said Berry. “It is precisely in these times that news/talk radio fulfills its highest calling — not just to inform, but to provide a trusted space where the community can come together.”
Berry added that the fact that Charlie Kirk hosted a nationally syndicated program for a competitor — Salem Radio Network — never entered the picture in deciding coverage plans for the shooting, the aftermath, and ultimately the funeral of Kirk.
He continued by noting that it was important for iHeartMedia to strive to provide the best coverage of the most important topics, and this was a case in point.
“Providing live coverage of the memorial service demonstrated that our stations are focused on what matters most to our listeners at a time when they were looking for connection, context, and community,” Berry said.
Some observers questioned why other networks did or didn’t provide more long-form coverage of the event. In some cases, the fact that the memorial for Charlie Kirk was held on a weekend was a hindrance.
But Chris Berry said that weekends have never been viewed as an afterthought.
“We have never seen it that way and we never will,” he concluded. “Talk radio has always been at its best when it steps beyond the ordinary to meet extraordinary moments, and our commitment to our listeners is to always be the trusted voice they can turn to for coverage of important events. It is these moments when the bond between our stations and our audiences becomes even stronger.”
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Garrett Searight is Barrett Media’s News Editor, which includes writing daily news stories, features, and opinion columns. He joined Barrett Media in 2022 after a decade leading several radio brands in several formats, as well as a 5-year stint working in local television. In addition to his work with Barrett Media, he is a radio and TV play-by-play broadcaster. Reach out to him at Garrett@BarrettMedia.com.
We pre-empted our regular syndicated programming to broadcast the memorial service. It was the best decision as response from listeners was overwhelmingly positive. Only one negative phone call.