It’s been nearly two decades for Dawn Davenport working in the city of Nashville. A city that, in those two decades, has seen growth in community leading to growth and interest in sports. For the past eight years, Davenport has been a trend-setting voice as a co-host of 3HL on Nashville’s top sports radio outlet, 104.5 The Zone.
“I never thought that I would be doing [sports] radio,” said Davenport. “I was interested in it and had no idea what it would turn into—if I would be good at it or even like it. Here we are, and I love it.”
Davenport was no stranger to Nashville sports fans when she arrived through the doors of 104.5 The Zone. She began her career as part of the morning show on local television affiliate WKRN as a sports and news anchor. While working behind the desk in Nashville, she also dabbled in sideline reporting for college football games on ESPN beginning in 2013.
She admitted the challenge of working a morning show was difficult in balancing work and personal life. When she got a call from former 104.5 The Zone programmer Brad Willis about joining a shifting weekday lineup, Davenport leaped at the opportunity.
“I had gone on the station often talking about college football or the Titans. So I thought, you know what—yeah, I think I might be interested in the opportunity,” recalled Davenport. “I might want a change.”
Growing With 3HL
Now entering her ninth year as co-host of 3HL alongside Brent Dougherty and Ron Slay with a freshly signed multi-year contract, Davenport couldn’t imagine going anywhere else.
“It’s the best chemistry I’ve ever had,” noted Davenport. “This has by far been the absolute best team I’ve ever gotten to work with. The personalities mesh, and all three of us bring something different.”
With the arrival of every football season, Davenport’s schedule becomes extremely busy. Causing stress as she balances multiple roles on television and radio along with her personal life. Now also halfway through her thirteenth season on the sidelines for ESPN’s coverage of the Big 12 Conference. Davenport explained that the chemistry she described, she leans on heavily during the football season.
“Having a three-person show and having men that are so supportive of me as a mom and as a professional helps so much,” said Davenport. “The balance is not easy. There are times where I feel like I’m a crappy radio teammate, college football teammate, mom, and wife. I don’t feel like I’m doing all of it well at the same time, but I think that’s normal.”
Work-life balance is just another struggle Davenport has had to overcome in her time working in both radio and television. She recalled that when she first began hosting programs on 104.5 The Zone, it took her some time to become comfortable sharing her opinion on air—something she hesitated to do while working in local television.
“My biggest challenge was feeling comfortable enough with giving my opinion. Backing it up while standing on it,” explained Davenport. “I had worked in jobs where your job was to be professional and unbiased. I don’t think I was very good at it in the beginning, so I was very careful with what I said and how I said it. And I was worried that I would piss too many people off. It took me about two years to be comfortable with saying what I thought.”
Female Presence in Sports Radio
At the time Davenport joined 104.5 The Zone, she was the first female full-time sports radio host in Music City—something she still considers an honor after other notable groundbreaking women made their mark on Nashville, from Good Morning America anchor Robin Roberts to NFL Network host Sara Walsh.
However, since her arrival more than eight years ago, while there have been other full-time female additions, there have also been subtractions in the market—leaving Davenport still as the lone full-time female sports radio host remaining.
“I do love the fact that there have been others. It hasn’t been just me for the last nine years,” said Davenport. “This market has embraced females in the sports world. Like me, I never imagined that I could do radio. I don’t think a lot of females look at it [radio] as a viable career option in sports. It’s getting better, but I don’t think this market is against it at all.”
Davenport notes that there is still plenty of room in the industry to improve female representation in sports radio. While sharing that thought, she also understands that radio needs to market itself more as a trusted destination for women interested in entering sports media.
“Sometimes it’s finding that voice that wants to do it—that’s credible enough to step into that role,” explained Davenport. “This market is amazing in accepting a female voice in sports, but I was just reminded, seeing comments on social media about getting back in the kitchen. I deal with different things than Brent or Slay would deal with being a female voice in sports. You also have to be a female that’s okay with handling that.”
The Nashville Sports Fan
Since finding comfort in sharing her opinions on sports, Davenport has not been shy about using her platform. She’s a guiding voice for college and professional sports on 3HL, which broadcasts on the radio home of the Tennessee Titans—a team that has been through some lean years recently, but not one to control any narrative on 3HL from Davenport.
“I’m still in on Cam Ward. Why are we panicking? I’ve also been very vocal about firing Chad Brinker (Tennessee Titans President of Football Operations). Nobody has ever said what I can or cannot say on our show,” said Davenport. “I’ve never felt pressured to toe the Titans line, and that’s the beauty of our management team at 104.5 The Zone. They allow us to do what we do because we’re successful and people trust us.”
She admits that while she personally has not felt any pressure, Davenport cannot say that about everyone at the radio station. One thing that helps, she says, is her presence at Titans practices and games. While she’s the one firing on 3HL, she says it’s part of the job to own it in person at team facilities.
Davenport understands the role she’s serving in a growing market with no national presence in sports television or radio. Although the Titans and Predators dominate professional discussions, there is also a large contingent for collegiate conversation that isn’t served to local audiences through national platforms.
“This city is monstrous when it comes to sports fandom. This city deserves two FM sports radio stations, and there’s plenty of an audience,” said Davenport. “If you want to hear about your team, you must listen locally. If you want any coverage of your teams, then it has to be locally here in town.”
Aspirations for more are something Davenport admits she doesn’t have. Despite the challenges of finding balance during the football season and discovering new ways to grow in the offseason, she couldn’t imagine being anywhere other than Nashville, doing exactly what she’s been doing with the family of people who surround her.
“You always have aspirations to do more or move up, but I love my balance right now. I love my radio team, and I don’t want to go anywhere. There’s a love this city and the people here,” said Davenport. “I love that local family feel, and like the balance of football and radio. Pretty happy where I’m at.”
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John Mamola is Barrett Media’s sports editor and daily sports columnist. He brings over two decades of experience (Chicago, Tampa/St Petersburg) in the broadcast industry with expertise in brand management, sales, promotions, producing, imaging, hosting, talent coaching, talent development, web development, social media strategy and design, video production, creative writing, partnership building, communication/networking with a long track record of growth and success. He is a five-time recognized top 20 program director in a major market via Barrett Medi’s Top 20 series and has been honored internally multiple times as station/brand of the year (Tampa, FL) and employee of the month (Tampa, FL) by iHeartMedia. Connect with John by email at John@BarrettMedia.com.
