Annual 'Cord Family Christmas' moves from WMMR to BEN-FM this year

This year will bring another "Cord Family Christmas" for beloved Philly radio personality Matt Cord and his yuletide cohost, Betty, his 88-year-old mother. But this year, it has a new home.

Since 2005, the Christmas special has aired on WMMR-FM, but this year, it runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on BEN-FM (95.7). Cord left WMMR last December and started hosting mornings at BEN.

Cord began the Christmas show tradition more than two decades ago at his first Philly station, Y100. He invited his father, Jack, mother, Betty, and brother, Michael, to join him on the air for a holiday broadcast so he could  spend time with his family despite his work schedule.

A small show that started with his parents taking dedication requests has evolved into a four-hour tradition that includes visits from the Cord grandchildren and great grandchildren, as well as well wishes from other family members.

"We want to create that feeling with our audience of sitting around the Christmas tree, telling stories, singing songs, and having fun with our extended family," Cord said of the program. "It just grew organically, and now it is my biggest show of the year."

Cord officially took over mornings at BEN in January, replacing Marilyn Russell, who was laid off in November last year. Russell has since found work at WOGL-FM (98.1).

"I enjoy talking to the listeners, many of whom call every year and are now my friends," Betty Cord said in a release. "I love that I'm able to spend Christmas morning with my family and my extended family."