Syndicated radio personality and HBCU alumnus Rickey Smiley is receiving one of the biggest honors of his career. Smiley has been announced as one of several inductees into the 2026 Radio Hall of Fame.
Smiley was selected as one of the six finalists out of 950 radio professionals. He’s in a class that features Bob Pittman, the CEO of iHeartMedia, and Boomer Esiason, the former NFL quarterback-turned-morning radio show host for WFAN.
Kraig Kitchin, the co-chair for the Radio Hall of Fame, spoke about the selection of the inductees.
“Our congratulations to each of our 2026 inductees on this well-deserved recognition. Each of these inductees has performed at the highest levels for a sustained period of time to make our industry that much more impactful to listeners and advertisers as a result. I’m thrilled to see them properly recognized by this announcement and the forthcoming induction ceremony this October. Thank you to our 2026 Nominating Committee and to the hundreds of voting panel participants for confirming our 2026 Class of Inductees.”
Smiley was surprised by the honor while live on his syndicated morning show. In a social media post, Urban One, the company that syndicates The Rickey Smiley Morning Show, also issued a statement.
“A trailblazer, comedian, and champion for our communities, Rickey’s warmth, wit, and storytelling have shaped radio and amplified African American culture for decades. This honor follows several major recent milestones: a five‑year extension of The Rickey Smiley Morning Show, the launch of his new video podcast Rickey Smiley On The Spot on the Urban One Podcast Network, and his role as host of the 2026 ONE Voyage Experience this fall — all underscoring his enduring influence and creativity across platforms.”
Rickey Smiley has been on the radio for a number of years, originally making his mark on hip-hop formatted stations in the 2000s and 2010s, before being named the successor for legendary radio personality, Tuskegee University alumnus, and fellow Radio Hall of Fame inductee Tom Joyner in 2019. Smiley’s radio program then moved to urban adult contemporary radio stations in 2020 and adjusted its show format accordingly.
The induction ceremony is set to take place on October 8.
