Kathy Hart
Kathy Hart broke her self-imposed silence after nearly four months Thursday to thank those who have supported her during her absence from Chicago radio’s top-rated morning show and to tell them: “Please stay tuned as I fully intend to be back on the air!”
Whether that means she will return to “The Eric & Kathy Show” on Hubbard Radio hot adult-contemporary WTMX FM 101.9 remains an open question. Hart’s contract is up in December, and Hubbard lawyers are in talks with Hart’s agent, Steve Mandell, on resolving the matter.
The show continues to draw top ratings with host Eric Ferguson and a cast that includes Melissa McGurren, Brian “Whip” Paruch, John Swanson and Cynthia DeNicolo.
Hart, 53, has been off the air since late April on what the station called a leave of absence. Since then she had not communicated with Ferguson, their co-workers or listeners, nor had she responded to requests for comment from the media — until now.
In a three-paragraph statement she emailed Thursday, Hart acknowledged that her long silence was “uncharacteristic,” adding: “I trust from the many years of our connection, you will support and respect the personal nature of why I have been off the air. . . . I have always considered The Mix and our listeners as family, and want to express my infinite gratitude to everyone who has reached out to me personally and supported me publicly.”
Hart and Mandell did not explain the reason for her leave and declined further comment.
Hart’s absence has been especially notable this week during “Eric & Kathy’s Kids,” the 18th annual radiothon to benefit Lurie Children’s Hospital. The major fundraising event culminates Friday with a marathon broadcast from the hospital.
“It has been challenging, mentally and physically, to be away for this long, especially on days like Friday for the live broadcast from Lurie Children’s for ‘Eric & Kathy’s Kids,’” she said. “I’ve always admired how E&K listeners come together to love and support these kids and their families. It’s also a great reminder that health and family should never be taken for granted and always come first, no matter what.”
Born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the former Kathy Achenbach grew up in northwest suburban Crystal Lake and began in radio in Rockford while attending Columbia College. She later worked on the air in Milwaukee, Raleigh, Phoenix and Columbus before joining The Mix in 1995. Hart and Ferguson teamed up the following year.
By the standards of show business, their 21-year partnership was a model of longevity. Rumors of personal animosity between them persisted for years, fueled in part by their unequal roles and wide disparity in compensation. (Ferguson is believed to be the highest-paid radio performer in Chicago.) For the most part, however, Ferguson and Hart managed to keep their tensions off the air until fairly recently.
Last November Ferguson and Hart were inducted in the National Radio Hall of Fame.
Hart lives with her husband and three children in Lincolnshire.
Here is the text of Hart’s statement:
To everyone who has reached out with concern and support these last few months, I want to say a very sincere thank you. As open as we’ve always been on the show, it was certainly uncharacteristic to not explain my absence . . . and even more uncharacteristic for me to be silent for this long. 😉 I trust from the many years of our connection, you will support and respect the personal nature of why I have been off the air.
It has been challenging, mentally and physically, to be away for this long, especially on days like Friday for the live broadcast from Lurie Children’s for “Eric & Kathy’s Kids.” I’ve always admired how E&K listeners come together to love and support these kids and their families. It’s also a great reminder that health and family should never be taken for granted and always come first, no matter what.
I have always considered the Mix and our listeners as family, and want to express my infinite gratitude to everyone who has reached out to me personally and supported me publicly. Please stay tuned as I fully intend to be back on the air!