WHKP is a radio station broadcasting at 1450 on the AM dial in Hendersonville, North Carolina

Hendersonville, North Carolina

Hendersonville is a city in Henderson County, North Carolina, USA, southeast of Asheville. In 1900, 1,917 persons lived in Hendersonville; in 1910, 2,818; and in 1940, 5,381 people lived here. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 12,223, up fivefold in one century. It is the county...

. The call letters stand for Where the Heavens Kiss the Peaks.

The station broadcasts to most of the area in Henderson County

Henderson County, North Carolina

Henderson County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is part of the Asheville, North Carolina, Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2008, the population was 102,367. Its county seat is Hendersonville.- History :...

 and parts of southern Buncombe County and parts of northern Polk County

Polk County, North Carolina

Polk County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of 2010, the population was 20,510. Its county seat is Columbus.-History:The county was formed in 1855 from parts of Henderson County and Rutherford County...

.

The current format is mostly conservative talk radio

Talk radio

Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live...

 and local programming of a conservative nature. Syndicated programming includes Rush Limbaugh

Rush Limbaugh

Rush Hudson Limbaugh III is an American radio talk show host, conservative political commentator, and an opinion leader in American conservatism. He hosts The Rush Limbaugh Show which is aired throughout the U.S. on Premiere Radio Networks and is the highest-rated talk-radio program in the United...

. The station also airs area high school sports.

History

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.

An Easter

Easter

Easter is the central feast in the Christian liturgical year. According to the Canonical gospels, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. His resurrection is celebrated on Easter Day or Easter Sunday...

 Sunrise Service at Chimney Rock Park

Chimney Rock Park

Chimney Rock State Park is a North Carolina state park in Chimney Rock, Rutherford County, North Carolina in the United States. The park is located southeast of Asheville, North Carolina, and is owned by the state of North Carolina....

 has aired on WHKP every year since it started in 1956.

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

Adult standards

Adult standards is a North American radio format heard primarily on AM or class A FM stations.Adult standards is aimed at "mature" adults, meaning mainly those persons over 50 years of age, but it is mostly targeted for senior citizens...

 music from the Music of Your Life

Music of Your Life

Music of Your Life is a satellite-delivered radio network featuring the Adult Standards music format. Created by record executive and jingle writer Al Ham, and now under the direction of Marc Angell, Music of Your Life has more than 50 AM, FM and HD-2 radio station affiliates, and has been in...

 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.

Actor and Western Carolina University

Western Carolina University

Western Carolina University is a coeducational public university located in Cullowhee, North Carolina, United States. The university is a constituent campus of the University of North Carolina system....

 associate dean Steve Carlisle hosted "It's All about Life," a weekly program.