2024 has become an important year for legends to announce their retirement. First up was former University of Alabama coach Nick Saban, followed by radio icons Rick and Bubba. Now another power player is taking off his headphones. After 50 years of broadcasting in the Yellowhammer State, veteran Alabama radio broadcaster J. Holland will end his program later this month with his signature booming voice.

Listeners across Alabama hear Holland every day as the afternoon news anchor for YHN Network, a news network heard on more than 25 radio stations.

YHN Network is owned and operated by YHN Media Group, LLC., the parent company of Yellowhammer News. In commemorating Holland's accomplishments, Yellowhammer News President Elise Terry said: “On behalf of YHN Media Group LLC, I would like to congratulate J. Holland on his retirement. He is an icon in Alabama broadcasting and has made a huge impact over the past 50 years. We would like to congratulate J. Holland on his retirement. Thank you for your contribution to Hammer News.”

Holland's radio career began in 1973 at WTTI-AM in his hometown of Dalton, Georgia. He came to Alabama to attend Jacksonville State University, where he worked at the legendary college radio station WLJS “92-J.” Early in his career, Holland was part of his pioneering WQEN-FM “Q-104” in Gadsden, which later became known as his 103.7 “The Q” in Birmingham. He also appeared on WGAD-AM, WGSV-AM, WAAX-AM, WERC-AM, WVNN-AM, WKLS-FM, WHMA-AM and others including He FM, WKXX-FM, WJBY-AM, WELR-FM. He also worked at many radio stations. , others. J. Holland has always been, and always will be, a self-proclaimed “radio guy” except for his short stint as the evening television news anchor for WJXS – TV24.

In the 1990s, Holland brought his signature sound to talk radio. He hosted the first conservative talk show on his WAAX-AM 570 “The Big WAAX” in Gadsden. “The station had just switched from country music, and callers kept calling to hear George Jones and Travis Tritt,” Holland said. Meanwhile, Holland was talking to Newt Gingrich about signing with America. Holland takes pride in educating his listeners, and he feels he played a small role in the “Republican Revolution” of 1994. Gadsden's from WAAX, and Huntsville's in the early 2000s he hosted popular talk shows on 770 WVNN and Newsradio 960 WERC in Birmingham. .

Since 2015, Holland has anchored network news on the YHN network. In the 50 years since Holland made her first radio broadcast, the radio landscape has changed. No more driving to the radio station. Thanks to technology, he was able to sit in his state-of-the-art home studio in a picturesque historic mansion in downtown Gadsden. From there he broadcasts throughout the state of Alabama.

Fellow YHN network anchor Elizabeth Kramer praised Holland's impressive radio career. “A list of Alabama's most iconic stations would not be complete without J. Holland. J. brings decades of expertise to his passion for Alabama's communities. No one else has worked as hard on their craft.”

After retiring, Holland plans to spend more time with his beloved family and travel with his wife, Marcia. The couple will soon celebrate their 46th wedding anniversary. Together they have three adult children and eight grandchildren. Highly sought after as a voice-over talent, Holland will still be heard on radio and television. He has recorded commercials for various companies in the Southeast and serves as the promotional voice for his Catholic network ETWN Global.

It's a real honor to be his news director and anchor with him. It's hard to imagine radio without J. Holland. He is like family to me. As a child, I used to listen to his stories on my way to school. At age 17, he began anchoring news on his talk show on Big WAAX in Gadsden. J. is my friend and mentor throughout my career. He may be retiring from daily news work, but I know he's always just a phone call away.

When asked what he would like to say to his listeners over the past 50 years, Holland replied: She has received high praise wherever she has gone. How can I say thank you for that? ” To conclude our conversation, he added a quote from General Douglas MacArthur: “Old soldiers never die, they just fade away.”

If listeners would like to send a message of thanks to J. Holland as he prepares for his retirement, listeners can contact him directly at: [email protected].

Scott Chambers is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News. He serves as his director and senior anchor for YHN Radio Network News. @ScottChambers