Kennadi Gates introduces a song during her guest DJ appearance on the Marty and Amy morning show, 99.9 KONY Country, St. George, Utah, May 16, 2018 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News
ST. GEORGE — Kennadi Gates, a 12-year-old country music fan, joined in Wednesday as a special guest DJ on the 99.9 KONY Country radio morning show with Marty and Amy.
Kennadi, a sixth-grader at Lava Ridge Intermediate School, started off her morning shift by announcing the first song she chose to play on the air, “Vacation” by Thomas Rhett. She said the song reminded her that school is almost out for the summer and that she is looking forward to an upcoming trip to Orlando, Florida, thanks to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Kennadi shared with listeners that she was first diagnosed with lymphoblastic leukemia about two years ago and has since been undergoing chemotherapy treatments at Primary Children’s Medical Center in Salt Lake City. She used to go up for treatments weekly, she said, but now her hospital visits are every three months.
Marty asked Kennadi if the treatments had affected her hair, commenting that she has a nice full head of brown curls.
“I did lose it, but it’s coming back in now,” Kennadi said, adding that her hair is darker and curlier than it was before.
Soon, it was time to play the show’s popular game called “Touch, Taste or Smell.”
Kennadi joined Amy in the nearby break room whipping up a concoction of two different jellies mixed with cayenne pepper and black pepper.
Marty then put on a blindfold and took a call from a listener. The caller voted for “taste,” meaning Marty had to open his mouth while Kennadi fed him some of the mixture with a spoon.
“Ughh. What is that?” the barely intelligible Marty mumbled, trying not to spit out the jelly all over the sound mixing console as Kennadi and Amy laughed with delight.
Kennadi’s mother, Sue Gates, watched her daughter’s DJ experience from inside the KONY studio, as did Make-A-Wish representatives Celeste Sorensen and Troy Rivera. The event was also streamed live via station’s Facebook page, where video clips and photos can be seen.
“You’re such a natural,” Amy told Kennadi. “When you become a radio star, you’ll know who to thank!”
But Kennadi said she’s thinking about being a teacher or possibly a psychologist when she grows up.
Kennadi wrapped up her hourlong stint on the show with her favorite song from her favorite artist: Carrie Underwood’s “Champion.”
“That fits you, because you are a champion,” said Amy. “You are an inspiration to many, including us.”
As an added bonus, Amy invited Kennadi to be KONY’s special guest at its upcoming 4th of July Celebration concert featuring Scotty McCreery.
“We can fan girl together!” Amy told the visibly excited Kennadi.
When asked what message she’d like to leave with listeners, Kennadi said, “Stay strong. Have faith.”
Amy agreed. “There’s good days ahead.”
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Kennadi Gates and on-air personality Marty prepare for Kennadi's guest DJ appearance on the Marty and Amy morning show, 99.9 KONY Country, St. George, Utah, May 16, 2018 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News
Kennadi Gates gets pointers from 99.9 KONY Country personality Amy during Kennadi's guest appearance on the Marty and Amy morning show, St. George, Utah, May 16, 2018 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News
On-air personalities Marty and Amy visit with guest DJ Kennadi Gates during their morning show, 99.9 KONY Country, St. George, Utah, May 16, 2018 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News
Kennadi Gates laughs during her guest DJ appearance on the Marty and Amy morning show, 99.9 KONY Country, St. George, Utah, May 16, 2018 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News
On-air personalities Amy and Marty pose with guest DJ Kennadi Gates during their morning show, 99.9 KONY Country, St. George, Utah, May 16, 2018 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News
On-air personality Amy discusses a game involving jelly mixed with pepper with guest DJ Kennadi Gates during the 99.9 KONY Country morning show, St. George, Utah, May 16, 2018 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News
Guest DJ Kennadi Gates feeds a blindfolded Marty jelly mixed with pepper during the 99.9 KONY Country morning show, St. George, Utah, May 16, 2018 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News
A blindfolded Marty reacts to being fed jelly mixed with pepper during the 99.9 KONY Country morning show, St. George, Utah, May 16, 2018 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News
On-air personality Amy and guest DJ Kennadi Gates during the 99.9 KONY Country morning show, St. George, Utah, May 16, 2018 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News
Kennadi Gates laughs during her guest DJ appearance on the Marty and Amy morning show, 99.9 KONY Country, St. George, Utah, May 16, 2018 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News
99.9 KONY Country personality Marty Lane smiles during Kennadi Gates' guest DJ appearance on the Marty and Amy morning show, 99.9 KONY Country, St. George, Utah, May 16, 2018 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News
L-R: Make-A-Wish foundation representative Celeste Sorensen, Sue Gates, Kennadi Gates and Troy Rivera, also with Make-A-Wish, pose for photos following Kennadi's guest DJ appearance on the Marty and Amy morning show, 99.9 KONY Country, St. George, Utah, May 16, 2018 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News
Sue Gates and daughter Kennadi during Kennadi's guest DJ appearance on the Marty and Amy morning show, 99.9 KONY Country, St. George, Utah, May 16, 2018 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News
Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2018, all rights reserved.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jeff Richards, a native of Salt Lake City with family roots in Panguitch, lived in Moab for 20 years before joining St. George News in 2017. Jeff is a longtime journalist and secondary school teacher. He and his wife Penny are the parents of five daughters. They also have two young grandsons. Jeff and his family enjoy swimming, camping, sightseeing, reading, and taking pictures.