Tom Barnard, the most listened-to morning radio personality in the history of Twin Cities radio, announced Friday, March 29, that he is entering an outpatient treatment program.
“This is the first time I’ve ever done the show with tears in my eyes,” Barnard told his KQRS listeners after going on the air about 5:40 a.m.
Barnard said he has been overcome by anger issues in recent months, particularly over the management of his long-running radio show, which has topped the Twin Cities charts since its debut in 1986. He also admitted that he drinks too much wine and that he needs pills to both go to sleep at night and to wake up in the pre-dawn hours.
“I was kind of introspective last night. I’m gonna check myself into treatment on Monday,” Barnard told his audience. “I am. I’m filled with rage and anger … I’m not kidding.”
Barnard said he most likely would enter the famous Hazelden program based in Center City, Minn. He said later in the show that he wants to give outpatient treatment a shot before committing to a stay at the facility.
Barnard’s attorney, Ron Rosenbaum, said the KQ host will not take a leave of absence, and he expects Barnard to be back on the air Monday morning.
At first, Barnard indicated he’d be leaving the show indefinitely.
“I don’t know if I can come back. I will either kill someone or myself. I don’t mean suicide — I’ll have a heart attack or stroke.”
Barnard said he hadn’t even told his wife, Kathryn Brandt, of his plans before hitting the air.
“Life has not been good for me recently,” Barnard said. “I’m sick to death of our federal government, our state government, the way this business is run.”
Barnard’s announcement follows a week of increasingly angry pronouncements on his Twitter account (@radioTomBarnard). The host vented multiple times about station management and members of his “Morning Crew.”
Late Thursday night, he took to Twitter to offer profane criticism of KQ’s sales department.
“I know a lot of advertizers are concerned about my longevity on The KQ Morning Show,” he tweeted, later adding “I think I’m done. They don’t support me.”
On the air Friday, Barnard was a little more specific.
“I have a huge problem with the way this outfit is run, and I’m just not going to deal with it anymore,” he said. “They’re destroying this show.”
His radio partners were initially taken by surprise at Barnard’s sudden announcement Friday, but sidekicks Terri Traen, Brian Zepp and Bob Sansevere all wished him well in his recovery.
Follow Kevin Cusick at twitter.com/theloopnow.