Delilah is the most-listened-to-woman on radio in the U.S. Delilah’s soothing voice, open heart and love of music have expanded her audience to more than eight million weekly listeners on approximately 160 radio stations in the U.S. Delilah, who celebrated the 30-year anniversary of her nighttime radio program in 2016, was honored with the radio industry’s highest accolades– an induction into the National Radio Hall of Fame in 2016, the 2017 National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Broadcast Hall of Fame induction, marking the first time in 35 years that a woman would receive such a distinction. As well, the NAB honored her with a prestigious Marconi Award for “Network/Syndicated Personality of the Year” in 2016. In addition, there are yearly honors by Radio Ink as one of the “Most Influential Women in Radio”. Delilah took home the trophy for “Outstanding Host Entertainment/Information” at the Alliance of Women in Media’s 37th Annual Gracie Awards Gala.
Delilah’s distinctive blend of story-telling, sympathetic listening and encouragement – all scored with adult contemporary music– makes her top ranked in most cities with female and male listeners, alike. She says her show is a “safety zone where listeners take off their armor, slip into a ‘Mr. Rogers’ cardigan, sit around the electronic hearth and share their secrets.”
She adds that her audience is “just like me and the two women working on the show, who were once listeners. We are single parents who work hard to strike a balance between family and work life. We also enjoy our friendships and remember to laugh as much as possible.”
Often referred to as the “Oprah of Radio,” Delilah is also the author of four books, including “One Heart at a Time,” which was released in 2018. Published by Rosetta Books, it features a first person autobiographical portrayal of Delilah’s life and her nature of focusing on one person at a time.
As a mother of 14 children, 11 of whom she adopted, Delilah established a foundation called Point Hope as a voice for forgotten children everywhere. Now in its 15th year, the immediate focus of the Foundation is on refugee children in Ghana and on special needs children in the foster care system nationwide and in her neighborhood of White Center in Seattle. She was recognized by the National Council of Adoption in 2018, being inducted into the Hall of Fame.
In addition to a passion for children and radio, Delilah is devoted to music because “it touches the heart the way nothing else can.” Her father had a Country-Western band, and her brother played in a Jazz band. Though she writes lyrics, she cannot sing. Delilah says, “I always wanted to be a performer, but I can’t sing, dance or act. Luckily, I found I could talk!”
Delilah loves her work “because it has allowed me to bring together a distinct community of people who reach out to help one another. We don’t try to fix people. We listen. We sympathize. We empathize. If the show has a message, it’s listen to your own gut. Trust your own intuition. Go where it leads. Don’t give up.”
Daily broadcasts, caring for her children, running a foundation, writing books, traveling and public speaking add up to a very busy life for Delilah. And she wouldn’t have it any other way.
