BobbyCast Recap: Chuck Wicks Talks Departure From ‘The Ty Bentli Show’ And Pending Project

What are Bobby and Chuck working on?

BobbyCast Recap: Chuck Wicks Talks Departure From ‘The Ty Bentli Show’ And Pending Project
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - APRIL 07: Chuck Wicks attends the 54th Academy Of Country Music Awards at MGM Grand Hotel & Casino on April 07, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Denise Truscello/ACMA2019/Getty Images for ACM)

On episode #245 of his podcast, the BobbyCast, Bobby Bones chatted with country singer and radio personality Chuck Wicks about his recent departure from Cumulus Media and his plans for what’s next.

Prior to May 1st, Wicks had been a part of Cumulus Media/Westwood One’s nationally syndicated morning show, The Ty Bentli Show. Wicks had been with the show for six years, which started with Blair Garner and Terri Clark as America’s Morning Show, then Ty, Kelly & Chuck, before rebranding as The Ty Bentli Show in January 2019. When show host Ty Bentli departed in February, Wicks took on the leadership role of the show.

“So, here we are on the Ty Bentli Show with no Ty,” Wicks told Bones. “I saw the staff and everybody on the morning show freaking out and I’m like, ‘Wait a minute. This is my moment!’ I had been waiting for this for six years. I’ve kind of waited in the wings because I’ve always wanted my own show. I’m like, ’No, I’ve got it, we’re going to be good, I’m going to sit at the helm, I’m going to take over, we’re going to do this.’”

He explains that very soon after he took the lead on the show, Nashville experienced deadly tornadoes and then the pandemic hit, so he never really got a chance to show his strengths as the show’s leader under normal circumstances. This, in addition to the company hiring a new Vice President who didn’t personally know Wicks and his team, led to the bad news that Wicks received on May 1st.

“I’m thinking maybe they’re going to give me a shot at this and come to find out they never really were,” said Wicks. “When the new VP came in, he was just like, ‘I’ve got my people, they’re coming in.’ They basically used me to keep the team together until they got all their ducks in a row.”

Wicks was let go over the phone which he says, “hit me right in the chest.” He also admits that he panicked when he got the news as he is now a husband and has a family. Soon after the firing, Wicks called up Bobby, who advised him to take a couple of weeks to figure out his next steps. After some thought, Wicks decided he wants to stay in radio and have his own show.

During their conversation, Bones and Wicks also alluded to some sort of project that may involve the both of them.

“There’s no announcement here now, but I think you and I are working on something that I think you’ll just thrive in and I’m excited to hear that you want to do this for however long you want to do this,” said Bobby.

“I’m excited to get started working with you and I’m excited to see where it goes,” added Wicks.

Bones later called the project a “podcast or show” and also invited Wicks to tour with him once his comedy tour restarts. To hear the full conversation between Bones and Wicks, listen to episode #245 of the BobbyCast.