Kelly Nash is stepping into mornings on iHeartMedia’s News/Talk outlets in South Carolina. He takes over “South Carolina’s Morning News” on 560 WVOC Columbia and 94.3 WSC in the Charleston market.
What We Know Nash will host mornings while continuing to co-host “The Morning Rush” on Country 97.5 WCOS Columbia alongside Jonathan Rush. He succeeds Gary David Barboza, who exited last week in iHeartMedia’s latest round of layoffs. Sports Director Christopher Thompson stays on as co-host. Nash had been hosting nights on WVOC and WSCC for the past month.
What’s at Stake Barboza spent multiple decades as PD and morning host at WVOC. His show expanded to WSCC as recently as last December. Replacing a decades-long morning voice carries real risk. Nash brings familiarity, though — he has been a Columbia market fixture since 2005.
What Remains Unclear Nash’s PD status at either station has not been addressed publicly. Whether iHeartMedia intends to fill Barboza’s programming director role separately remains an open question. It is also unclear how Nash managing two morning shows across formats will affect long-term workload.
What It Means Nash is a known commodity in this market — that matters. He originally built his reputation at CHR 104.7 WNOK before rejoining Rush at WCOS in 2011. He also brings outside experience, including a PD stint at WKCI New Haven and a role at Universal Records. For iHeartMedia, consolidating talent across two formats is a cost-efficient move. For Nash, it is a significant career elevation.
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David Hill serves as a Music Radio Editor, Columnist and Features writer for Barrett Media. A radio lifer with more than 30 years behind the mic, in the control room, and in the program director’s chair, David’s career spans influential stops at brands such as WIYY 98 Rock, WBAL-AM, and 99X. He has worked across multiple formats and ownership groups, including iHeartMedia and Cumulus Media, developing talent, breaking music, and navigating every major industry shift from diary to PPM and terrestrial dominance to streaming disruption. When he’s not writing or analyzing the industry, Dave runs The Tune Farm, a marketing firm built to help artists and brands grow audience the same way great radio always has—by creating connection, not just impressions. He can be reached at David@BarrettMedia.com.
