RIP KIDD

Kidd Kraddick fans turn to social media to mourn loss of radio icon

It's been less than 48 hours since the death of nationally syndicated radio host David "Kidd" Kraddick, and his fans are still reeling from the news. Kraddick was best known as the host of morning radio show Kidd Kraddick in the Morning, broadcast in Dallas on KHKS 106.1 KISS-FM.

Reaction has been swift and sweeping, underscoring the ever-dominant role that social media plays in the way news spreads, beginning with the mode in which the news of his death was first discovered. At least an hour before traditional media weighed in, Kraddick's death was first revealed by Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban via Twitter.

RIP Kidd Kraddick. You were an amazing man and a friend. You are already missed.

— Mark Cuban (@mcuban) July 28, 2013

As Twitter activity began to surge, someone updated Kraddick's Wikipedia page with news of his passing, a mere 30 minutes after Cuban's initial tweet. Meanwhile, the hashtags #RIPKiddKraddick and #KiddMemories quickly emerged, bringing forth a flurry of reflective tweets from listeners across the country.

And within just a few hours of his death, an "RIP KIDD Kraddick" page was created, one that currently stands with 208,000 followers, with a thousand more joining every minute.

Thanks to its electronic billboard technology, Clear Channel Communications was able to update its billboards around Dallas-Fort Worth instantly. By Sunday morning, Clear Channel billboards posted a message that simply read, "In loving memory of Kidd Kraddick."

Meanwhile, Kiss-FM has hosted basically a 24-hour memorial, with fans calling in to express their condolences; a makeshift memorial has been built outside his studio in Las Colinas.

Co-host Raspberry took to Facebook as well, posting a note July 28 that said in part, "My heart is broken. Nineteen years ago, Kidd Kraddick swept me up from the middle of nowhere and took me on as his on-air wife. It will always be the biggest honor of my life."

She and the rest of the crew from Kidd Kraddick in the Morning hosted a tribute show on Monday, July 29, eliciting a wave of emotions across the country.

I'm listening, laughing and crying right now. Radio will never be the same, ever. You will never be forgotten Kidd Kraddick #RIPKiddKraddick

— Billy The Kidd (@billyontheradio) July 29, 2013

Big Al, Jenna, Kidd Kraddick, Kellie Rasberry and J-Si of Kidd Kraddick in the Morning on July 27.

RIP Kidd Kraddick Facebook

Big Al, Jenna, Kidd Kraddick, Kellie Rasberry and J-Si of Kidd Kraddick in the Morning on July 27.

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The Joke Has Landed

New comedy club at Toyota Music Factory in Irving gets set for laughs

Photo by Anna Dolmany

This is the fifth Punch Line location.

It's almost time for Punch Line Irving to open its doors, and Dave Chappelle is at the ready. The famous comedian will christen the new comedy club with four sold-out shows on December 17 and 18, but there's plenty more funny business in store for 2026.

First announced in November, this is Punch Line's fifth location — and second in Texas, the first opened in Houston in 2024 — and it's taking up residence at the Toyota Music Factory. The 240-seat club plans to host more than 350 shows and private events annually, featuring a blend of high-wattage celebrity and homegrown talent.

Its decor nods to the brand's belief that comedy is a sport, with feature wall showcasing punching bags and boxing bells signed by "heavy hitter" performers.

The menu also echoes the theme, with such cocktails as the Bellringer (bourbon, lemonade, and Liquid Death half-and-half iced tea), Ringside Ranch Water (blanco tequila, hibiscus, lime, and soda), and the Espresso All-Star, their take on the espresso martini. Food includes Punch Line favorites like the Mic Drop Burger, Punch Line Nachos, and Homemade Punch Pop Tarts in bourbon apple or strawberry cream.

There is also a second, more flexible space outside the main showroom called The Callback Bar that's designed to host smaller performances, as well as a furnished patio.

Punch Line Irving The Callback Bar.Photo by Anna Dolmany

Photo by Anna Dolmany

This is the fifth Punch Line location.

The talent gets treated as well as the audience, with a private comics lounge in place of a traditional dressing room. Designed as a shared gathering space, it sports a custom media wall showing the live-show feed, a dressing table, a private ensuite restroom, and a hospitality station.

Punch Line makes it a point to support the local comedy scene, and its Irving location will be no exception. Twenty-five cents from each ticket at participating shows benefits Comedy Gives Back, a nonprofit organization providing financial grants and resources to stand-up comedians in need. The club also hosted its first open mic on December 9 to welcome the community, with participating comics donating nonperishable items to the North Texas Food Bank.

Don't fret if you didn't snag tickets to Dave Chappelle — big names like Leslie Jones, Tone Bell, Pete Holmes, and Christina P. all have shows scheduled in the first few months of 2026 and tickets are on sale now.

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