Delilah Reflects on a Special Listener Call from a Soldier Home for the Holidays
Radio host Delilah.
Credit:
Radio Delilah/Instagram
NEED TO KNOW
- Christmas is a busy time for Delilah, the most-listened-to woman on U.S. radio.
- When speaking with PEOPLE, she shares her favorite Christmas songs and one listener story she annually revisits.
- Delilah also discusses her approach to selecting the perfect song for each listener.
For renowned radio host Delilah, the Christmas season holds great significance. Balancing time with her large family and connecting with listeners on her nationally syndicated show, she emphasizes the importance of “presence” during the holidays.
With nearly forty years in broadcasting, Delilah has enchanted audiences with her seasonal song selections and heartfelt advice. At age 65, she reflects on the many memorable calls she has received over the years, particularly recalling one touching story about a military personnel striving to return home for the holidays.
“He was in the military, and nothing was going right. He finally made his flight and had to take different connections. He landed near his hometown, but he lived an hour out of town, and there was a snowstorm, and there was just no way,” Delilah recounts.
“As the night went on, the snow stopped, and somebody at the airport said, ‘Son, we’re gonna get you home,’” she adds. “Everyone came together, they cleared the way, and he ended up going on the snowmobile to his parents’ door.”
Radio personality Delilah.
Gary Gershoff/Getty
Delilah’s commitment to being present during the holidays inspired her recent collaboration with Sonos, in which she offers a holiday “prep talk” for hosts preparing for guests while ensuring they carve out time for themselves.
“There are no listener calls in the hour because we want it to feel like I’m your companion for the night,” she explains. “People want to be with you, not to critique your decorations. Let’s focus on making sure your anxiety is gone so you can be fully present.”
In echoing her favorite listener story, she emphasizes that “the best present you can give someone during the holidays is yourself.”
“Being present, not being on a device, not being distracted, not worrying about work or politics or the economy, but being emotionally and spiritually present in the moment—that’s what the holidays are about,” she asserts.
Music plays a vital role for Delilah during the festive season. Although selecting her favorite Christmas song resembles choosing a favorite child, some melodies stand out. “I love Dolly Parton’s ‘Hard Candy Christmas.’ That one makes me cry every year. I love anything by the Trans Siberian Orchestra. There are so many great songs; I could start playing Christmas music in July!”
Currently, For King and Country’s rendition of “The Little Drummer Boy” ranks at the top of her list.
While her collaboration with Sonos lacks listener stories—an element central to her radio show—Delilah remains committed to pairing songs with personal tales. This necessity for sensitivity is especially high during the holidays when many face hardships.
“During Christmas, it’s tough if somebody calls and says, ‘I’m so sad, this government shutdown has affected our whole family.’ I can’t very well play ‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,’” she notes. “We sometimes need to screen those calls and focus instead on family, joy, and traditions.”
With an estimated 9 million weekly listeners, Delilah recalls growing up in a musical household, where her siblings received the “musical gene,” while she developed a keen ear for lyrics.
“When I hear a lyrically powerful song, those lyrics stick with me. As I listen to a story, my mind plays a soundtrack, pairing it with the narrative in real time,” she elaborates. “I often take notes and choose songs that match listeners’ stories, compiling five to ten pages of notes after each show.”
As the top female voice on U.S. radio, Delilah will continue to inspire hope this holiday season, through her Sonos partnership and on the airwaves across various stations.
