Rickey Smiley visits the Hub City

Rickey Smiley made a stop right here in the Hub City to promote the expansion of his morning show, but he wanted to say hey to his listeners before he left.

Nationally syndicated radio host and comedian Rickey Smiley broadcasted his morning show ‘The Rickey Smiley Morning Show’ live from Jackson today.

“I’m really really excited" says Rickey Smiley.

Smiley was also here to promote the transition of his morning show from Hot 96.1 to 96 KIX next year.

He is making this move after long time radio host Tom Joyner retires.

Although smiley is excited for the next chapter in his career, there is one thing he will miss.

“It’s going to be a lot of fun, but i’m just going to miss. I am really going to miss hip hop. I’m really going to miss playing da baby”, says Smiley.

A line of people formed around the student center at Jackson State Community College with listeners to take photos and get an autograph from Smiley.

Listener Tawanika McKinney was excited to meet Smiley, “it was so exciting to see Rickey Smiley, here in our city. To have celebrities of his magnitude to come, that’s awesome. Jackson is on the move.”

Smiley says he enjoys meeting his listeners but,

Rickey hesitates, “Yeaaaaa you want me to be honest.”

He just wants them to be themselves around him.

“I just like people being genuine and sincere and it comes from a good place, it comes from the heart", Smiley adds on.

Smiley also received the key to the city while here in Jackson.

Now today was Tom Joyner’s last day on the air, but Rickey Smiley said he is excited about the future. In Jackson, for 39 News, I’m Imani Williams.