Advertisement

Q94 morning show’s Dan and Kelly will give last show Aug. 31

Error message

  • Warning: array_merge(): Expected parameter 1 to be an array, bool given in _simpleads_render_ajax_template() (line 133 of /home/pdccourier/www/www/sites/all/modules/simpleads/includes/simpleads.helper.inc).
  • Notice: Trying to get property 'settings' of non-object in _simpleads_adgroup_settings() (line 343 of /home/pdccourier/www/www/sites/all/modules/simpleads/includes/simpleads.helper.inc).
  • Warning: array_merge(): Expected parameter 1 to be an array, bool given in _simpleads_render_ajax_template() (line 157 of /home/pdccourier/www/www/sites/all/modules/simpleads/includes/simpleads.helper.inc).
  • Notice: Trying to access array offset on value of type null in include() (line 24 of /home/pdccourier/www/www/sites/all/modules/simpleads/templates/simpleads_ajax_call.tpl.php).

Kelly Renner and Dan Moris will air their last morning show with “Dan and Kelly” on Prairie du Chien’s Q94/WPRE Aug. 31. Both are leaving the radio station on new life adventures. (Photo by Correne Martin)

By Correne Martin

Dan and Kelly themselves officially broke the news, on the Great Country, Q94/WPRE airwaves Aug. 24, that they are leaving the radio station. The lively morning show pair will sign off from their last show, Friday, Aug. 31. All week, they’ve been reminiscing about their moments together.

Dan Moris and Kelly Renner are the local radio personalities behind the light-hearted morning program of talk, music and news from 6-9 a.m. every day on 94.3 (rebroadcast from 11-2 on 104.3). Listeners have welcomed the beloved duo into their homes for three years, including the days when they “woke up” with Dan, Todd (Crotty) and Kelly.

The two current hosts are moving on to new things. 

Kelly will be a teacher’s aide at B.A. Kennedy Elementary School, where her young son will attend classes. 

Dan candidly admits he has no immediate plans and looks forward to a month to himself and his family. Having taught one year at Wauzeka-Steuben last school year while also continuing his radio gig, he said he has some ideas and options career-wise. 

“But I’m ultimately looking to challenge myself in a way that I’ve never done with that regular job as a safety net,” he stated, also noting, “I had always thought I couldn’t see myself retiring in radio.”

Also an amateur musician, Dan began his radio career almost 20 years ago at WSUP, the UW-Platteville student radio station. He’s spent many of those years since, off and on, at the Prairie du Chien radio station.

Kelly started at Q94 as a receptionist, with no on-air experience. Kelly turned out to be the missing piece to a morning show that would find a comfortable spot in the hearts of residents across the region. 

“You’d make me come in and do bug reports,” Kelly laughed in talking to Dan, remembering her People, Places and Things spots. In addition to her background in entomology, Todd Crotty also found Kelly to be an effortless voice he could pull as a random guest.

“All three of us had always gotten along really well,” Dan said of the trio, “yet we were very different. I was the familiar voice with the reporting background, Kelly provided contrast and Todd was this real oddball character. And, I grew up here, while both of them chose to plant their roots here. I’ve always felt that brings a different kind of appreciation for the area.”

Dan and Kelly agreed their consistent goal has been to have fun with the show yet make it sound “intelligent and well-thought-out.” They’ve enjoyed presenting such regular segments as “Happy Dance Friday,” “Real Life,” and “Joke of the Day” for loyal listeners.

When Todd stepped away from the show, to pursue his own business achievements, Dan and Kelly kept their banter going. 

“In radio, there’s gotta be something that works. For us, something certainly did,” Dan grinned. “It’s amazing to see how our show has evolved.”

Also, thanks to the mentorship of Dan and Todd, Kelly began producing the entire show herself. 

“The things we talk about are driven by Kelly,” Dan explained. “She’s the real star of the show. When I go out and people talk to me about the show, it’s always about Kelly.”

Some of the duo’s most memorable times came unplanned though, during breaking news situations. Being at the heart of instances like the McGregor tornado, the Prairie du Chien Slumberland fire and Marquette hardware store fire, Dan and Kelly certainly felt the gravity of relaying those historic events to the community.

“It’s a big moment changing from being light-hearted to something like that,” Kelly said. 

“I remember going to those places and getting responses filled with real, raw emotion,” Dan reflected.

Of course, being on stage at Country on the River and back stage with some of country music’s biggest stars are memories that are hard to beat. 

In addition, checking in with each other off-air before every morning show about their personal changes and happenings is part of their routine both will miss.

Neither has been involved in the conversation about their replacement moving forward. 

However, the feedback Dan and Kelly have received from the public, upon announcing their show’s conclusion, has assured them that they’ve “been very real” for their audience. They’ve simply held conversations and allowed the listeners in on those.

“I think a lot of people feel like they’re our friends,” Kelly imparted. “One of the best parts is that I really got a chance to connect with people. I’ve met so many wonderful people.”

Dan added, “It’s really touching that people are sad. It’s sad for us as well. This has been the most rewarding, enjoyable and significant thing I’ve been a part of just because of the connections I know we’ve made.”

Rate this article: 
No votes yet