Uncle Woody Honored with Key tothe City at 2025 White Party

By: Crystal Good

Woody Woods, y’all! Charleston showed up and showed out at his annual White Party (again!) on April 5, 2025, where the celebration hit a new high: Mayor Amy Shuler Goodwin presented Woody with the Key to the City—a powerful symbol of his legacy in the Capital City.

For over 25 years, Woody “Uncle Woody” Woods has been more than a radio personality—he’s a cultural force, community advocate, and local legend. As the first African-American male in West Virginia to host a full-time FM radio show, Woody broke barriers, uplifted voices, and made Charleston’s WRVZ 107.3 The Beat one of the state’s most beloved stations.

Woody’s radio journey began on the night shift at WJFX Foxy 107.9 in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, and led him to Charleston, where he became a fixture on the airwaves and in the community. A proud member of the CORE DJs, he’s shared stages with icons like Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, Lil Wayne, and more—but it’s his off-air presence that leaves the deepest impact.

From reading in schools to mentoring youth, coaching local teams, and running the annual “Beat Backpack Attack,” Woody’s love for the community is personal and powerful. His advocacy for childhood cancer through St. Jude’s, his mentorship of inner-city youth, and his deep ties to Charleston schools show how much he invests in the next generation.

Now a West Virginia Radio Hall of Fame inductee, a proud father of five, and grandfather, Uncle Woody leads with heart, hustle, and humor. Whether he’s spinning records or speaking truth, Woody Woods is the beat of the city—and with the Key to the City in hand, he’s just getting started.