Longtime morning radio host Brian Pierce (Cozadd) is hanging up the headphones after 45 years in the radio business. He will host his final morning show on WUSW (US 92.7) and his last political talk show on News/Talk 94.7 and 970 WMAY on Friday, July 26.

Pierce’s dream to be “the voice on the radio” started at age 15 with a pirate station in his parent’s house on State Street in Springfield.  His first radio job was at WCVS in Springfield, which was then a Top 40 station. From there, he worked at stations in San Antonio, Texas; New Orleans, Louisiana; Boston, Massachusetts; Dallas, Texas; and then spent 25 years hosting a team show with his wife, Kellie Michaels, on WNNS in Springfield and later country station KFDI in Wichita, Kansas.

The couple won the CMA Award for Medium Market Personalities of the Year in 2011 for the “Brian and Kellie” morning show at KFDI.

Pierce returned to Springfield in 2015 and has been part of a morning show on country station WUSW, along with accomplishing his goal of hosting a political talk show, which he does on WMAY.

“I couldn’t imagine doing anything else for a living. And I’ve been fortunate that I’ve been able to do what I love across the country and back here in my hometown. But now it’s time to stop getting up at 2:30 in the morning,” Pierce said about his upcoming retirement.