Steve Lundy and Gina Melton have shared a microphone in Omaha for more than two decades. Earlier this month, the country music industry made it official. The partnership works.
The Country Music Association named Steve & Gina in the Morning its Medium Market Personalities of the Year, the duo’s second win in the category in three years. At the same time, KAT 103.7 (KXKT) was named CMA Medium Market Station of the Year. That’s a rare double for any station, and it’s a big moment for the iHeartMedia Omaha cluster.
“Winning one CMA Award is an incredible accomplishment. Having KAT 103.7 and Steve & Gina both recognized in the same year is truly extraordinary,” said Jennifer Stocker, Area President for iHeartMedia Nebraska-Iowa. “Steve and Gina have built an incredible relationship with their audience, and the entire KAT 103.7 team continues to demonstrate what great local radio is all about.”
Talk to Steve and Gina about why the show connects, and one word keeps coming up. Authenticity. These two have spent 20 years proving that being real still beats being clever.
An Accidental Start and a Fourth-Grade Dream
Like a lot of great radio careers, Steve’s started almost by chance.
“I got into radio almost by accident. While I was in college, I took a radio internship to earn an easy credit,” he said. “I’d always been fascinated by radio as a kid, but once I stepped inside a station, I was hooked. What started as an internship quickly turned into a passion and ultimately a career.”
Gina’s road was a little different. She grew up in Chicago, soaking in some of the city’s legendary stations and pretending to be a DJ with her best friend. But she wasn’t the outgoing kid you might expect.
“The funny thing is, I was actually very shy as a kid. A teacher named Mrs. Craig encouraged me to use my voice, and that confidence boost changed everything,” Gina said.
She went on to study broadcast journalism and interned at several television stations. Then a radio opening came along, and she jumped.
“When I saw an opening in radio, I decided to take a chance, even though I was terrified and had no idea what I was doing,” she said. Her love of country came from home. “My grandmother introduced me to country music through artists like Dolly Parton, and that’s where my love for the format began. Today, I get to do what I’ve dreamed of doing since fourth grade.”
Finding the Rhythm
The pairing came together when Gina’s previous partner left the show. Her manager at the time, Tom, brought Steve in as a potential co-host. Gina already knew the name.
“I was thrilled because I’d listened to him on the original Sweet 98 and had always been a fan,” she said.
For Steve, the move meant leaving a long run in a completely different format.
“After spending 13 years in talk radio, I was ready for a new challenge,” he said. “I’ve always loved country music and had even written country songs, but I’d never worked at a country station. The opportunity was exciting, and I felt it was the right next step in my career.”
The show started as a three-person team before eventually becoming a duo.
“Like any partnership, it took some time to find our rhythm,” Gina said. “When the show eventually transitioned to just the two of us, we had to adapt. Looking back, those changes helped shape the chemistry we have today.”
Two Decades, Very Few Disagreements
Every long-running morning team needs a willingness to let the other person win once in a while. Steve and Gina have figured that part out.
“In more than 20 years of working together, I can count on one hand the number of times we’ve truly disagreed,” Steve said. “And if we’re being honest, Gina usually gets her way. The best part is that I genuinely enjoy coming to work every day. She’s authentic, thoughtful, and one of the easiest people you’ll ever work with.”
Gina doesn’t dispute the scoreboard.
“We don’t disagree often, but when we do, I’d agree with Steve… I usually get my way,” she said, laughing.
The admiration runs both directions. “One of the things I admire most about Steve is that he’s exactly the same person off the air as he is on it. That authenticity is rare,” she said. “Working alongside someone you respect professionally and genuinely like as a friend is a gift.”
Listeners can hear that. You can’t fake two decades of liking each other at 6 a.m.
The Family You Actually Like
Country radio has always lived and died on its relationship with the audience. For Steve and Gina, there’s no secret formula behind it.
“Honestly, we just show up as ourselves. We’ve never felt the need to be anything other than who we are,” Steve said. “Our listeners have invited us into their lives for many years, and we try to do the same by sharing our stories and experiences. That authenticity creates a connection that feels genuine.”
Gina puts it in terms every country listener will recognize.
“We treat our listeners like extended family, the family we actually like,” she said. “They’ve been with us through so many milestones: marriages, children, celebrations, and challenges. Because we’re authentic about our lives on the air, listeners feel comfortable sharing theirs with us too. That’s what creates such a strong bond.”
Off the Air, Still Showing Up
Off the air, both hosts stay active on social media, host concert pre-parties, and show up at community events across Omaha.
One effort stands out. The KAT 103.7 Book Tour sends Steve and Gina into local schools, where they read to kids and hand out free books.
“Connecting with listeners doesn’t stop when the show ends,” Gina said. “Those connections are incredibly important to us.”
For Steve, it’s a way of life. Both hosts are involved with schools, churches, and nonprofits around town.
“Staying connected isn’t something we turn on and off; it’s simply how we live our lives,” he said. “Those everyday interactions help strengthen the relationships we’ve built over the years.”
Why It Still Works
So what makes a show worthy of CMA hardware after all these years? Steve keeps it simple.
“I think the show works because we’re authentic and approachable. We focus on creating a positive experience for our listeners, treating them with respect, and making sure they know how much we appreciate them,” he said. “Every morning, I look forward to the opportunity to be a small part of someone’s day and, hopefully, make it a little better.”
For Gina, the early alarm is the easy part. The audience gets the rest of their lives, too, from Steve’s golf game and his quest for the best lawn in the neighborhood to her own ballet classes and book club.
“Radio is something we’ve both loved for as long as we can remember, so getting up early is easy when you’re doing what you love,” she said. “Our listeners get to share in our lives. That’s what makes this job so special. We wouldn’t be here without them, and we’re grateful for that every single day.”
Stocker summed up why the moment matters beyond one station. “Radio is at its best when it creates meaningful connections, delivers great entertainment, and gives listeners a reason to come back every day,” she said. “This team does exactly that.”
There’s a lot of talk about where radio is headed. Steve and Gina are a reminder of what it does best. Two people who like each other, who like their audience, and who show up every morning ready to make somebody’s day a little better. That still works. And now they’ve got a second CMA Award to prove it.
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