Tessa Barrera is back in Houston radio. She joins AC Sunny 99.1 KODA as the station’s new afternoon drive host.
What We Know: Barrera previously co-hosted “The Rod Ryan Show” on Rock/Alternative 94.5 The Buzz KTBZ-FM from 2019 through the end of 2024. She also co-hosted “Houston Life” on KPRC-TV from July 2023 through this past March. Before landing in Houston, she spent four years as a reporter and sportscaster at KRIS/KZTV Corpus Christi. She later anchored and produced for iHeart News/Talk 640 KFI in Los Angeles.
What’s at Stake: Sunny 99.1 needed afternoon stability following recent losses. Midday host Amanda Flores and afternoon tracker Chris Davis both exited in last month’s layoffs. Meanwhile, morning host Dana Tyson now covers 6-11am. Star 102.1 KDGE Dallas morning host Leigh Ann Adam follows from 11am to 3pm via voice tracking.
What Remains Unclear: It’s not yet known whether iHeart plans to fill any remaining scheduling gaps locally. Additionally, the long-term strategy for the station’s afternoon block is still undefined. Whether Barrera’s hire signals broader investment in Sunny’s talent roster remains to be seen.
What It Means: Barrera brings significant multimedia experience to an AC station rebuilding its live-and-local presence. Her background spans rock radio, television, news, and sports. That versatility matters as programmers seek hosts who connect across platforms. For Houston listeners, her return offers a familiar and credible voice during a key daypart.
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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.