The Ace & TJ Show was a syndicated morning radio show originating out of Charlotte, North Carolina. It was mainly featured in the Southern United States, and mainly targeted Southerners. , The Ace & TJ Show began broadcasting as the morning show on WHQC ("Channel 96-1"). Ace & TJ were previously on Charlotte's WNKS ("Kiss 95.1"), where the show debuted on April 6, 1998. After some unsuccessful contract discussions with CBS Radio, their last day on Kiss 95.1 was Friday, May 20, 2011. Their non-compete agreement was valid until December 1, 2011, at which point they started to look for a new home station in Charlotte.
Ace & TJ were eight-time nominees for the Radio and Records CHR "Personality Of The Year", though they never won.
The show was available among the cities in which they are broadcast through terrestrial radio. The show is also available online through the Ace & TJ Button. Additional programming is also available on The Ace & TJ Button immediately following the end of the terrestrial radio version of the show online from AceTJ.com. There is also an Ace & TJ Button App available in the iTunes App Store and Android Marketplace.
As of August 31, 2021, Ace & TJ was no longer heard in Charlotte except for minute-long clips airing throughout the day on WXRC. This follows the end of the duo's relationship with iHeartRadio. Now that they own the show, the morning show will continue via online streaming and various apps in addition to 13 affiliates, eight of which will carry the full show.
On July 13, 2022, it was reported that the program would return to the web site of its former flagship station (WNKS) on July 18, while Ace & TJ Anytime would air on the station from 9 A.M. to Noon.
In May 2024 it was announced the show would move to WKQC.
On September 20, 2024, it was announced that Ace is no longer with the show. The TJ & Riggins show was to start September 23. New co-host Bryan "Riggins" Weber started as an intern in 2009 and became vice-president of programming for the network in 2016. WKQC dropped the show.
On February 4, 2025, it was announced that Ace passed at age 56.
Show line-up Main cast
TJ: The Love Specialist. He was the other co-host of the show. TJ has two children: Lanie and Aiden aka "Boy", as TJ calls him, and he is married to Jodi. His real name is Ritchie. TJ also hosts the TJ & Jodi's House Podcast with his wife, Jodie. Riggins: The Music Master. Was an intern from January to August 2009. He was The Ace & TJ Show's creative consultant. He constantly updates the website, making sure that it always has the most current videos and information. Tech-D Rob: The Technical Director. Rob took BreezeKat's position following Breeze's exit from the show. He is now in charge of the technical aspects of the show. Rob also hosts the Nerd News Podcast. Lindsay: The Girl. Right before joining the Ace & TJ Show, she was a dancer for the Charlotte Bobcats dance team. Lindsey returned to the show September 2024.
Current interns Former show members
Ace: The Rockstar (left show September 2024). The lead singer of the band Charity Case. He "ran the board" for the show and was the co-host along with TJ. Had three children, Payton (deceased July 2020), Cade, and Dax. He was married to Amanda. His real name was David. Ace also hosted the Meaningful Meeting Podcast. Alexis (2020-2024): The New Girl. The newest member of the show. She started behind the scenes as an assistant for Adam, the show manager. In January 2021 she became a full-time cast member. Sass (2018-2020) Sass is a former intern for the show. She got her name honestly, being sassy. She's a very talented singer and had gone on to pursue other ventures. Guenn (2016-2018) "Ol' Girl" came back after abandoning the show for the competition back in 2011. The cast missed Guenn and loved having her back for a few years. Guenn decided to take time away from radio to spend with family but still does radio spots for iHeart. Caroline (2013): The Executive Producer. Caroline replaced Yankee Pete as the show's Executive Producer following Pete's retirement from radio. Caroline joined the show from Houston, where she was the producer of The Roula & Ryan Show. Caroline officially joined the show shortly after news broke on July 16, 2013. Yankee Pete (1998-2013): The Guy With The Really Deep Voice. He was officially Ace & TJ's Chief of Staff. He is also the voice behind Stupid News. Yankee Pete, who had been in the radio industry for over 24 years and with the Ace & TJ Show for a total of 19 years, retired from the Ace & TJ Show on June 28, 2013. Monica (2011-2012): The Little Big Star. Monica Palumbo was the last guest Ace & TJ ever had in their original studio in Charlotte. She filled-in during Ace & TJ's seven-month absence from Charlotte radio while their former "girl" waited out her noncompete clause. Monica was hired by the show a few months after Guenn took a job with Ace & TJ's former company CBS Radio. Her first official day as being a regular cast member was Tuesday, January 3, 2012. Before joining the show she was a model with Marilyn Green, whose modeling agency was in charge of Sprint's models for their NASCAR contract. She also is a former Miss North Carolina USA. On November 1, 2012, Monica made the announcement that she would be leaving The Ace & TJ Show at the end of the year to move to Fuquay-Varina, near Raleigh, NC to be with her new husband, Rick, where his car dealership is located. They were married on May 5, 2012 and decided to live in the same house rather than continue commuting back and forth. Monica's last day on the show was Thursday, December 20, the day before the show's annual break for Christmas and New Year's. She also serves as a Fox Sports correspondent. BreezeKat (2001-2012): The Bouncy Little Ninja. Started as an intern in 2001 and worked off and on with the Show for the next 11 years until reaching the title of Executive Producer. He was in charge of Total Ace & TJ. Additionally, he was in charge of the interns. BreezeKat left the Ace & TJ Show on August 10, 2012 to take a Chief of Staff position with Bob and the Showgram. Following BreezeKat's departure with the Showgram, he became the Executive Producer of the now defunct Drex and Maney show on Kiss 95.1. Guenn (2007–2011): Ol' Girl. Guenn replaced Madden. She was in the sales and promotions department at the show's former flagship station, Kiss 95.1, until she sat in for a couple of days, and, after a short time filling in, Ace and TJ thought that they should make her the permanent replacement for Madden. After Ace & TJ's contract with CBS Radio expired, Guenn had to remain with CBS, as her contract ran through December 2011. Originally, they planned to have her rejoin The Ace & TJ Show after the expiration of her contract with CBS Radio. Ace & TJ made the announcement on their show in September 2011 that Guenn would not be returning to the show. Returned to the show as "the girl" in January 2017. White Shadow (2008–2010): The Guy Who Was On The Roof That One Time. Shadow was in charge of doing most of the posting to the website. On Monday, October 11, 2010, less than a week after he became engaged to his girlfriend, Amy, Shadow said farewell to the Ace & TJ radio family. Ryan (2001–2008): The Stunt Guy. He was with the show 7 years, filling the show's producer role. He ran the group of interns in the news room and made sure things with the website are up-to-date. Madden (2005–2007): The Redneck Girl. She replaced Angie in June 2005. Left the Show June 27, 2007 to become a mid-day host and assistant program director in Modesto, CA. Cubby (2004–2006): The Britney Spears Lover. Intern turned assistant producer that was with the show for 2 years. Cubby has been a special in-studio and call-in guest of the show from time to time. Angie Fitzsimmons (2000–2005): The Angel. Angie left the show in June 2005 to move to Los Angeles with her husband. Has since become the executive producer on Carson Daly's radio show. Terri (1996–2000): The Original Girl. Terri was "the girl" originally. Intern / Daddy Matt (1998–2000): Started out as the intern and then stayed on to become an assistant producer. Justin (1997–1998): Was an assistant producer before Intern Matt joined the show. Is featured on Ace & TJ's first CD, No, You Shut Up!
List of Ace & TJ affiliates
Radio stations that broadcast the show include WWGY (Froggy 99.3) / WRQR-FM (Rocky 105.5) from Fulton, Kentucky / Union City/Martin/Paris, Tennessee WKIB Mix 96.5 from Cape Girardeau, Missouri WERO BOB 93.3 from Greenville, North Carolina / Jacksonville, North Carolina WMYI 102.5 The Lake from Greenville/Spartanburg, South Carolina WNOK 104.7 WNOK from Columbia, South Carolina WKSI 98-3 Kiss FM from Winchester, Virginia WMKS Hits 100.3 from Greensboro, North Carolina WJSR Awesome 100.9 from Lakeside, Virginia WLZK The Lake 94.1 from Paris, Tennessee
All of the above stations air or have previously aired a Top 40 (CHR) format, except for KABW, which plays country music.
Philanthropy Payton's Promise: A charity founded to focus on disaster relief, community improvements, supplementing other charities, and to fill needs for families when caring for terminally ill or chronically disabled children. Later renamed "Payton's Promise" after Ace's daughter was killed in a motor vehicle collision in July, 2020. Ace and TJ founded their own charity called "Ace & TJ's Grin Kids". Ace & TJ's Grin Kids is a non-profit 501(c)3 charity, created by morning show personalities Ace & TJ in Charlotte, North Carolina in January 2000. The name of the organization comes from Ace & TJ's motto on their morning show, "You Grin, You're In!". The charity is run solely on the donations from the show's listeners, The Radio Family. The goal is to take a plane-load of permanently disabled and terminally ill children to Disney World each year in October. The charity went on its first trip to Disney World in 2000 and just recently made its 13th consecutive trip. The trip each year is cost-free to the participants and has brought joy to over 260 children. The charity ceased operations in 2022. Charity Case is a band that Ace formed in 2001 to mimic the show Making the Band plays solely to raise money for Grin Kids. The band was formed to originally play for one show, has since gone on to raise more than $750 thousand for the charity. Charity Case finished its eight-year run in June 2009. The retirement ended in March 2010 and they even tried to open for the band KISS during their summer 2010 tour. In attempting to do so, they had to submit an original song, Victoria's Secret, the first ever released by Charity Case. World Vision: Ace & TJ began a relationship with World Vision, a Christian-based charity that allows people to sponsor children in third-world countries all over the world to bring such basic relief as clean water to communities stricken by overwhelming poverty. Ace & TJ spent all day helping to raise money and sponsorship of "last chance" children during their show on Thursday, July 26, 2012, with everyone on the show taking part and sponsoring children themselves. Breaking & Entering Christmas: Ace & TJ take nominations for families in need in November each year for a series they call "Breaking & Entering Christmas". Yankee Pete and his band of Merry Hoodlum Elves then travel to the houses of the families, break into their house, and leave thousands of dollars in Christmas gifts, decorations, and other necessities to help these families through the holidays and the winter. Gifts for the families are donated from businesses all over the Ace & TJ listening area as well as donations from Ace & TJ Radio Family members (listeners).