Larry Elder has earned plenty of accolades over a long career in talk radio. Now, some of his colleagues want to add Radio Hall of Fame inductee to that list.
The Radio Hall of Fame announced its 2026 nominees last week, and Elder’s name appears among a wide-ranging class of 24 candidates.
Salem Media Vice President of Content Phil Boyce and The Mike Gallagher Show host Mike Gallagher are both making the case that Elder belongs in the class.
Boyce didn’t hold back in his endorsement.
“Larry Elder is a true American patriot,” said Boyce. “He has deep understanding of the news events facing our country right now and fights on a daily basis to make sure the right side wins. We are in a culture war in America, and we need voices like Larry to help make sense of it all.”
Elder built his reputation over decades as a firebrand conservative voice in Los Angeles. He launched The Larry Elder Show on KABC in 1994, quickly becoming one of the most recognized names in talk radio. His sharp delivery, legal background, and libertarian-leaning commentary earned him the nickname “The Sage from South Central.”
From local Los Angeles airwaves, he grew into a nationally syndicated force.
His influence extends well beyond radio. Elder holds a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame — a distinction that Gallagher says only strengthens the argument for Hall of Fame inclusion.
“I’ll try to conceal my bitterness at never having been nominated and say a few nice things about my friend Larry Elder,” Gallagher said with characteristic wit. “Seriously, he’s iconic. He had a delightfully unexpected entry into the business and has mastered the craft.”
Gallagher added: “Besides, anyone with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame should be in the radio hall as well. I’m proud — and envious — that he’s nominated. He deserves it.”
Boyce also pointed to Elder’s 2021 run in California’s gubernatorial recall election as evidence of his audience’s trust in him. Fifty candidates sought to replace Governor Gavin Newsom. Elder finished first among all of them.
“It just shows the confidence his audience has in him to be the right voice at the right time,” Boyce said. “I think it’s time we put him into the Radio Hall of Fame.”
Alex Marlow, who joined the Salem Radio Network lineup earlier this year, echoed similar sentiments.
“Larry Elder is a singular voice in talk radio,” The Alex Marlow Show host said. “I’m not sure exactly who gave him the nickname The Sage, but there’s a reason why it stuck. What’s well-known is that he has been a juggernaut on the AM dial because he has a unique gift of being an educator, a philosopher, and an entertainer all at once, but what people might not understand is how vast his influence has spread.”
Marlow noted that he owes his show to Elder’s influence on the industry.
“I’m a perfect illustration (of Elder’s influence): I became a religious listener to Larry’s show in high school and went on to intern for him for a brief time,” Marlow shared. “That résumé item alone persuaded Andrew Breitbart to hire me as the first employee of Breitbart News, which I’m proud to say has had a hand in shaping modern history. Now we’re colleagues at Salem, but that doesn’t begin to describe the importance he’s had in my life, and I’m just one of countless examples.”
The full 2026 class won’t be revealed until Wednesday, May 20th. Honorees will be celebrated on October 8 at a ceremony at the Fairmont Hotel Chicago.
The complete list of nominees is below:
- Andie Summers
- Big D & Bubba
- Bob Stroud
- Boomer Esiason
- Charlie Van Dyke
- Enrique Santos
- Fred Winston
- Funkmaster Flex
- Helen Little
- Joey Reynolds
- John & Ken
- Johnny Magic
- Kevin Matthews
- Kid Leo
- Larry Elder
- Lee Arnold
- Monica May
- Pat Hughes
- Raul Brindis
- Rickey Smiley
- Ryan Cameron
- Shotgun Tom Kelly
- The Electrifying Mojo
- Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me!
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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.
