This longtime Peoria DJ is leaving the rock radio airwaves, but not the city she loves

Anna Kinkade, a host for rock radio stations 105.7 and 95.5, is leaving the industry after a decadeslong career.

Kinkade announced the news on the 105.7 The X website. She wrote that she had accepted a local non-radio position. Her last day on-air was to be Friday, April 7.

In the post, Kinkade traced her radio career path back to 1996, when she attended broadcasting school. "I knew I loved music, and have no musical talent, perhaps being on the radio would be a good fit. Thankfully, it worked out."

Kinkade said she remembered her first concert in Peoria and "the first event I hosted that was a colossal disaster."

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Of her long tenure on Peoria-area radio, she wrote, "It’s still shocking when someone informs me they grew up listening to me."

Looking back, she recalled "bed checks on the party ... rocking out at SOP’S, five o’clock freak out, the ticket window, rockin’ paws, girl talk, the rockstar of the day, and so much more."

Kinkade wrote that her radio career had assisted her fundraising efforts for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and her advocacy for animals, and thanked her listeners.

A radio host reflects

On the eve of her radio retirement and career reset, she looked back at her time on the airwaves.

Kinkade, 46, has been a Peoria-area resident since 2000. "At the time, both the Decatur and Peoria stations were owned by Cromwell Radio and one of the program directors in Peoria was in Decatur for a meeting, heard me on the radio and wanted me to come work for him in Peoria, and the rest is history," she told the Journal Star.

Kinkade grew up in the small city of Cambridge, Minnesota. She said she's enjoyed the change of scenery — and climate. "I love Peoria! I never intended to stay here as long as I have, but I love that it has a small-town mentality but a big-city feel. Plus, I fell in love with the Peoria Rivermen on day one and have been a big fan since. It has always felt like home to me, and now that I've been here longer than where I grew up, it is home." As for the weather, she said, "I will take Illinois winters over Minnesota winters any day and any time!"

Of her favorite moments as a DJ, she said, "It's difficult to pick just one. ... There are listeners who have become close friends. ... And there is St. Jude. This career has allowed me to be a part of raising millions of dollars for St. Jude through the St. Jude Run and the Dream Home. I've been able to use this platform to also advocate for homeless animals and promote pet adoption. ... Oh, and I got to meet Jared Leto."

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Highlights and lowlights

The radio personality also answered some questions her retirement post raised.

Her first Peoria concert, she said, was Third Eye Blind ("Semi-Charmed Life") at the Peoria Civic Center Theater. "I had only been here for days and was invited to go by my co-workers. I hadn't been to many live shows at that point, so it was crazy to me to be in the pit, right in front of the stage and being so close to the band. At that time I couldn't believe that it was real life and considered 'work.' I was hooked from that moment on."

"The first event I hosted that was a colossal disaster," she added, was just days later. "The station needed someone to host a bus trip to Chicago for Nine Inch Nails and Marilyn Manson. I got nominated as the newbie. I was nervous and scared because I had only been employed for one week and here I am hosting a bus trip. My boss gave me one rule, no alcohol was allowed on the bus, and stressed this to me."

While en route, a window on the bus door shattered. The driver pulled over at a gas station, and one of the passengers rigged a fix to the broken door. Meanwhile, "everyone on the bus went into the gas station and bought beer and alcohol," she said. "Naturally, I freaked out. Not only did the window break, but now everyone is breaking the one rule I was told I had to enforce." She called her boss, who "told me I needed to tell everyone at the next stop they had to toss the beer. So I told everyone to ditch the beer, played the bad guy, thankfully they all understood."

The following Monday, Kinkade said, her boss shrugged off the alcohol infraction and said, "You could have let everyone keep it." She added, "We laugh about it now ... but at the time ... I could have hurt him for that, lol."

Kinkade was asked about especially nice — or difficult — musicians she's encountered on the job. "The nicest and ... friendliest band is Sevendust. Those guys can meet you once and know your name forever. They love their fans, and Peoria. The hardest interview I ever did was with the guys in Korn. They also were the rudest, but I don't hold it against them. Everyone has bad days, and I'm sure it is not fun doing press and answering the same question over and over again. They put on a great show, but they were definitely a difficult interview."

Of her future plans, Kinkade said, "I will still be living/working in Peoria and supporting our community."

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Peoria, Illinois, radio icon Anna Kinkade leaving airwaves, but not area