Kidd Kraddick Remembered As Radio Giant With A Big Heart
Kidd Kraddick died doing what he loved best — helping make life a little more magical for children with chronic and terminal illnesses.
The 53-year-old Dallas radio legend was attending a golf tournament in New Orleans on Saturday when he died suddenly. The event was a benefit for Kidd’s Kids, a non-profit he started that sponsors trips to Disney World for the children and their families.
On Sunday fans of the radio personality flooded his Dallas radio station with notes and flowers, while his Facebook and Twitter pages turned into memorials to his life.
“What’s remarkable about Kidd is that he took that wall that’s always been there between broadcasters and audience and in his show, he completely wiped it out,” said KLUV-FM (98.7) radio host Jody Dean. “You didn’t feel like you were listening to a show. You felt like you were listening to a friend.”
Many of the condolences came from the celebrity friends David “Kidd” Kraddick had made during his close to three decades in the business. Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban tweeted about the radio host’s passing, as did singer Kelly Clarkson.
“Oh Man, I just heard Kidd Kraddick died! He’s my childhood dj. What a sad day. His poor family. He was always nice 2 me from the beginning,” Clarkson tweeted.
Dr. Phil McGraw also spoke fondly of his friend.
Kraddick actually did a spot-on Dr. Phil impression on the air, but in real life the two were close and talked often about their families. Kidd Kraddick even confided in McGraw that he planned to ask his girlfriend to marry him, showing Dr. Phil the ring two weeks ago.
McGraw said he knew something was amiss on Saturday when he sent Kraddick a text and got no reply. A short time later McGraw got a text from Kraddick’s fiance, saying they needed to talk.
The Kidd Kraddick In The Morning show is heard on more than 75 Top 40 and Hot AC radio stations and is a leader among most-listened-to contemporary morning programs, Kraddick’s publicist noted.
