Big 95.5 rounds out local country lineup

Amber "Alabama" Cole

Amber "Alabama" Cole

Chicago’s new country music station WEBG FM 95.5 completed its local talent lineup Tuesday with the hiring of Amber “Alabama” Cole to host afternoons and Erik Zachary to host evenings.

Branded as Big 95.5, the iHeartMedia station previously announced the hiring of Mason Schreader and Zach “Remy” Hoesly as morning personalities and Steve Stewart as program director and midday host. The station switched to country January 5 after five years in Spanish-language music formats.

What’s most remarkable about the lineup is that all four dayparts will be occupied by local hosts broadcasting live from studios in Chicago — unlike other iHeartMedia stations here, which include voice-tracked and syndicated programs. It underscores the company’s effort in taking on CBS Radio WUSN FM 99.5, which has a 33-year head start in the format.

Cole, who calls herself “Alabama” on the air, has been afternoon host and music director at iHeartMedia’s WNOH in Norfolk, Virginia, since last September. A native of Pinson, Alabama, she previously was afternoon host and promotion director at WJIM in Lansing, Michigan, and worked part time at WDZH in Detroit.

"Alabama is incredibly talented and fiercely competitive," Stewart said in a statement. “She not only does a great show but is also nonstop in the community and on all social media platforms. Alabama will be seen all over Chicago!"

On her Facebook and Twitter pages Tuesday, Cole counted down the hours to the announcement of her move to Chicago: "5 hours and I get to share the biggest news of my life ever!"; "2 hours 30 minutes! AHHHHHHHHHHH" and "Less than 30 minutes. The count down begins and I'm dying!"

Erik Zachary

Erik Zachary

Zachary, a northwest suburban native who graduated last year from Columbia College Chicago, began as an intern at iHeartMedia Chicago and has been on the air at Top 40 WKSC FM 103.5 since 2012. Stewart called him “one of the most energetic air talents in Chicago.”

"To say that I’m ecstatic would be a severe understatement,” Zachary was quoted as saying. “I’ve grown up in the Chicagoland area and when I first got called to be on-air at 103.5 Kiss FM, I thought nothing could ever beat that feeling. I was wrong. Not only do I have the opportunity to talk with Chicago country fans five nights a week, but I get to be a part of launching what is guaranteed to be a BIG station. The country format is one that I’ve grown extremely passionate about, so to be given the chance to work every day with a team of the industry’s absolute best in my hometown. That is simply unreal."

Here is the Monday through Friday lineup on Big 95.5:

  • 6 to 10 a.m.: Mason and Remy
  • 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Steve Stewart
  • 2 to 7 p.m.: Alabama
  • 7 p.m. to midnight: Erik Zackary