Michelle McKormick Signs Off WLAV After 42 Years

RADIO ONLINE | Sunday, August 30, 2026 | 9:53pm CT

Michelle McKormick

Longtime Grand Rapids radio personality Michelle McKormick has signed off from Cumulus Media's Classic Rock WLAV-FM after a 42-year broadcasting career in West Michigan. McKormick hosted her final show Friday, August 28, alongside "Michelle & Travis" co-host Travis Gibbs.

Her departure followed a round of job cuts at Cumulus Media. McKormick told listeners in mid-August that her position was among those eliminated as the company made staffing changes.

"About two weeks ago our company made some changes and they had to eliminate some jobs," she said when announcing her departure. "Mine was one of them that was eliminated."

McKormick began her broadcasting career at age 19 at WGRD-FM while attending Central Michigan University. She went on to become a fixture of West Michigan radio over the next four decades.

Speaking with WZZM-TV during her final hours at WLAV, McKormick reflected on the changes she witnessed during her career, from the days of physical records and a heavily male-dominated radio industry to the emergence of digital media, podcasts and new approaches to show preparation.

"It's a business now," McKormick said. "You have to have business sense. So, if you want to be a broadcaster, you have to know your worth, and you have to be able to be flexible, because it's a digital world."

Despite the technological changes, she said the fundamental role of an on-air personality has remained much the same, particularly in morning radio.

"The reason morning shows are so fun and silly and goofy are because when you wake up in the morning, you want to know the world's okay," she said. "And that's my job, to let you know the world's okay."

During her career, McKormick crossed paths with entertainers including Gwen Stefani, Johnny Cash, Robin Williams and David Bowie.

While her run at WLAV has ended, McKormick indicated she may not be finished with broadcasting. "I don't know that I'm done in radio yet, or in broadcasting yet, but I will miss that," she said of her connection with West Michigan listeners. "Thanks to everybody in West Michigan, you've been so kind."