Leslie Fram departs ‘Morning X’ show at 99X after three years

Fram did not return a text seeking comment but provided a statement to a Facebook 99X fan site, noting that her departure was not voluntary.

“As one of the founding architects of 99X and The Morning X, this was not how I envisioned the last chapter the end but I’m grateful for every moment I got to spend behind the mic with all of you,” she wrote. “To all the loyal 99X fans … I carry you with me. Thank you for the memories, the laughs, the music, and the love. ‘It’s a bittersweet symphony, this life’ … love always."

Brian Philips, who created the original 99X in 1992 and resurrected it in late 2022, and Steve Craig, program director, afternoon host and part of the original 99X, also did not respond to texts.

Fram, now 69, was an integral part of the original incarnation of “The Morning X” with Barnes and Jimmy Baron, which ran from 1993 to 2004. For a time, the show was considered the buzziest rock morning show in Atlanta and pulled in strong ratings among Gen Xers.

She was also 99X’s program director for much of its original run, and stayed with the station until upper management killed it in 2008. For 14 years, it became a more traditional rock station dubbed Rock 100.5.

Credit: The Morning X in 1996. CR: File photo

Credit: The Morning X in 1996. CR: File photo

In late 2022, Atlanta-based Cumulus Media resurrected 99X and brought back former station talent including Craig, Will Pendarvis, Jill Melancon, Matt Jones, Clark, Barnes and Fram.

Cumulus recently filed for bankruptcy protection to erase a significant amount of debt.

It also stopped paying for Nielsen ratings after filing an antitrust lawsuit against the company, so it’s unclear how the 99X morning show is doing now.

After leaving 99X the first time, Fram ran an alternative rock station in New York City for three years before moving to Nashville, Tennessee, in 2011 to become senior vice president of music strategy and talent for CMT. There, she strongly championed female country artists.

When Barnes asked Fram to join “The Morning X” again in 2023, she accepted the job, though she stayed in Nashville, where she owns a ranch. She worked at both CMT and 99X until she was laid off by CMT in 2024.

Barnes was unable to convince Baron to rejoin the trio in 2023 because he was doing too well as a Realtor. He still occasionally makes cameo appearances on “The Morning X” and can be heard during the 6 a.m. hour when the station runs “best of” segments from the original run.