| City of license | Hendersonville, North Carolina |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 1450 (kHz) |
| Format | talk radio |
| ERP | 970 watts |
| Class | C |
| Callsign meaning | Where the Heavens Kiss the Peaks |
| Website | http://www.whkp.com/ |
WHKP is a radio station broadcasting at 1450 on the AM dial in Hendersonville, North Carolina. The call letters stand for Where the Heavens Kiss the Peaks.
The station broadcasts to most of the area in Henderson County and parts of southern Buncombe County and parts of northern Polk County.
The current format is mostly conservative talk radio and local programming of a conservative nature. Syndicated programming includes Rush Limbaugh. The station also airs area high school sports.
Station owner Kermit Edney hosted one of Western North Carolina's most popular morning shows from 1947 to 1991, when he sold to Radio Henderson Inc. When the station celebrated its 50th anniversary in 1996, Edney was named to the North Carolina Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame, and a bronze bust of Edney was placed in the FitzSimons Historical Room at the Henderson County Public Library. The Kermit Edney Musical Library was established by WHKP employees.[1]
An Easter Sunrise Service at Chimney Rock Park has aired on WHKP every year since it started in 1956.[2]
After 33 years, Al Hope left WHKP's morning show in 2006, replaced by news director and "Open Line Hendersonville" host Larry Freeman, who had worked at the station 40 years. At that time, the station once again began airing adult standards music from the Music of Your Life network at night. Tippy Creswell, who had worked at the station since 1978, would be co-hosting the late morning show with newcomer Abby Ramsey.[3]
Actor and Western Carolina University associate dean Steve Carlisle hosted "It's All about Life," a weekly program.[4]