Who was TJ Phillips? Details explored as beloved radio DJ dies at 66

TJ Phillips, the beloved South Carolina radio personality, died on Sunday, June 8, 2025. He was best known for South Carolina's 92.5 Kickin' Country morning show, TJ & Jessica in the Morning, which aired every weekday from 5 am to 10 am. In addition to the morning show, TJ would also take up the radio spots on Saturdays from 7 am to 10 am.

The station announced his death in an Instagram post. It said:

''Charleston Media Solutions is sad to announce the passing of TJ Phillips, who died peacefully on Sunday, June 8th. Phillips had been one half of the highly rated TJ & Jessica Morning Show on 92.5 Kickin’ Country since November of 2016.''

More about TJ Phillips

TJ Phillips began working on the radio when he was 15. At the time of his death, he was 66 years old. He hosted the morning show along with Jessica Chandler for the Lowcountry radio listeners for over 30 years.

Phillips' Facebook profile says that he was a husband, father, veteran, animal lover, music fan, painter, and photographer. Hunter Meyer, the Program Director for Kickin' Country 92.5, said this about Phillips, as per ABC News4:

''He's a legend. I know that word gets thrown out a lot, And you go, what's that mean? I can't put into a sentence or a statement what TJ was to this town and to the people around him. It's a voice that's sorely going to be missed on our air.''

Paul O’Malley, the President of Charleston Media Solutions, also released a statement following the news of Phillips' death. This is what he said:

''TJ Phillips was more than a morning DJ. He was an immensely talented broadcaster, but also a veteran who proudly served his country, a man who constantly tried to make the lives of others better, and a friend who will be greatly missed.''

As per the post by 925kickincountry, Phillips was inducted into the Lowcountry Music Hall of Fame for his support of the local music community, and was also a 16-time Addy Award winner in the area of Audio/Feature/Commercial production & Copywriting.

Furthermore, he was voted Best Radio Personality by The Charleston City Paper and Mount Pleasant Magazine, Best Local Radio Show, and South Carolina Broadcasters Radio Show of the Year.

He was also well known for supporting charities, including the Charleston Animal Society and the MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital. Mimi Dorman, the corporate relations manager at MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital, said this about him in a statement:

''He became one of our ambassadors for the Children's Hospital through our annual Cares For Kids Radiothon. And so we worked with him for 16 years. That event is two days and he just went above and beyond every year, making that better and better, raising nearly $2.5 million for us since 2016.''

Following the announcement of Phillips' death, fans and radio listeners flooded social media with heartfelt tributes.

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