David “Ace” Cannon, a veteran Charlotte, North Carolina radio host and fan favorite since the 1990s, has died. He was 56.
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The passing of the beloved broadcaster was announced on Tuesday, according to a report by Charlotte’s NBC affiliate, WCNC. The cause of his death has not been disclosed at this time.
Cannon was once a co-host of the Ace & TJ Show. The morning show was a staple of North Carolina entertainment, with audiences tuning in for over two decades.
David “Ace” Cannon who spent more than a quarter-century as one-half of one of Charlotte’s most popular morning-radio duos, “Ace & TJ,” before a sudden and surprising departure from their show last fall died Tuesday, according to multiple reports. He was 56.😢 pic.twitter.com/stvxVL9UBb
— Sumner (@renmusb1) February 5, 2025
On HITS 96.1, an iHeartMedia station where he once held court, Cannon was noted as,”‘an important part of so many people’s lives. [He provided] companionship and laughter to his many listeners and colleagues.”
Cannon co-hosted his morning show alongside Ritchie ‘TJ’ Beams until his sudden departure in September of last year. Originally airing in 1998, the program was subsequently rebranded as the TJ & Riggins Show.
Cannon briefly addressed his departure, sharing that he was taking personal time amid his separation from his wife as they move toward divorce, according to the Charlotte Observer.
Colleagues Pay Tribute to David ‘Ace’ Cannon
“Our prayers are with our brother,” Ace’s former cohosts wrote on Facebook.”‘We are devastated by the news.”
In 1991, he crossed paths with his longtime collaborator, Beams, at KQID in Alexandria, Louisiana. Their partnership took off in 1993 when they launched their show, which later relocated to North Carolina.
He is survived by his wife, Amanda, from whom he was in the process of separating, their one-year-old son, Dax, and his son, Cade, from his previous marriage to his first wife, Shonnette.
The former couple also had a daughter, Payton. She tragically passed away in a car accident in 2020 at the age of 21. In honor of his daughter, Cannon established a non-profit organization named Payton’s Promise, dedicated to supporting communities in need.
“We have had many requests from radio family members for information as to where they can donate to help,” a message on the website written by Beams reads. “Our charity named in honor of Ace’s late daughter was obviously very close to his heart. If you feel moved to share a gift with “Payton’s Promise”, it would be much appreciated. Any donation in Ace’s name to a worthy charity would be a great honor to his memory.”