In the dark of night, a woman seeks to bring the light of Christ into her life.
Although many people listen to the radio or their favorite podcasts or audiobooks, she talks with God, a spiritual practice that permeates her daily commutes that begin before dawn.
As a devout Catholic and radio show personality, these conversations come naturally for Andie Summers, host of the Andie Summers Show on WXTU 92.5 FM, weekdays from 5:30 to 10 a.m.
“It’s almost like I feel like Jesus is sitting in the car with me,” Summers said. “I’ll ask questions. I will talk things through, and I’m hearing answers coming from a much higher being than myself.”
A longtime member of St. Joseph Parish in Downingtown, Summers has been hosting her popular morning show on the country station for 26 years. In recognition of her successful broadcasting career, she will be inducted into the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia Hall of Fame during a gala on Nov. 21.
“I look at the other people on this list who have gotten this honor before me, and I’m just completely in awe,” she said. “I’m thrilled anyone would’ve thought that I would be worthy of this. It is a great honor.”
The veteran radio host also has received the Academy of Country Music Award for Major Market Station of the Year and a Gracie Award. Twice she has been recognized with the Country Music Association Award for Major Market Personality of the Year.
Summers, the youngest daughter of Dolores and the late Thomas Shone, graduated from Dallas High School in Dallas, Pa. She attended Bloomsburg University where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in mass communications.
Working in radio was not on Summers’ radar while she was in college. Watching episodes of the “Thirtysomething” television drama series inspired her to go into the advertising profession.
“I wanted to work in advertising, just like Michael Steadman on the show,” Summers said. “I thought that seemed like the greatest job in the world.”
However, landing a part-time job at a small country radio station in Bloomsburg solidified her career path.
“I was thinking it would be a good resume builder, but I fell in love with the industry,” Summers said. “I fell in love with country music, and the first day I was on the air, I was like, ‘This is what I want to do for the rest of my life.’”
The radio industry also provided an opportunity for Andie to meet Leonard Bonacci, her husband of 23 years. The couple has two children, Victoria, a senior at Bishop Shanahan High School in Downingtown, and Leonard III, an eighth grader at St. Joseph School.
She and Leonard met while working at 98.5 WKRZ, a pop music station in the Scranton-Wikes Barre area. He worked in promotions, and she was hosting a morning show.
Although Leonard and Andie were both raised Catholic, they had stopped attending Mass.
The couple reached a point in their relationship when things weren’t going well, according to Andie.
“I remember thinking I could never imagine my life without him, but I just knew it had to get better,” Summers said.
Returning to Mass proved to be a pivotal moment in their relationship. They both began attending Mass regularly, even if it meant going to Mass by themselves.
“We just got so much out of it, and it really brought us closer together,” Summers said.
Leonard and Andie were married in 2002 at St. Joseph Church.
“It was really important to me that we start our married life together in the church where we would raise our family,” she said. “It’s such an active, beautiful, amazing congregation. It was like nothing I’d ever experienced before.”
Early in their marriage, Andie and Leonard facilitated Pre-Cana marriage preparation classes at the parish.
“It’s so much fun now to see so many couples with their kids that we taught when they were just engaged,” she said.
Summers also volunteers as a lector and Communion minister at St. Joseph’s.
“This is my home parish, so I’ll do anything they ask of me,” Summers said. “I love our church community.”
Participating in the Walking with Purpose women’s Bible study groups at the parish has helped enrich Summers’ faith life.
“I love that I went into it not knowing anyone,” she said. “I’ve learned so much from everyone else’s life experiences because we’re all in a different stage of life. It is a wonderful program.”
Sharing her time and talent is important to Summers, especially with causes close to her heart. She has supported the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society for several years due to her sister Debbie’s leukemia diagnosis. Sadly, Debbie passed away on March 17, 2024.
“She battled for about 10 years,” Summers said. “My other sister Sandi and I were saying, ‘Nothing prepares you for losing a sibling.’”
Summers got involved with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention more recently when there was an increase in the number of teens committing suicide in the Downingtown area.
“I would have tough conversations with my kids about it,” Summers said. “I would tell them, ‘We have to keep talking because when you stop talking, that’s how I’ll know that something is wrong.’”
While waking up in the middle of the night is the hardest part of her job, Summers enjoys the strong connections she has with her morning crew: Jeff Kurkjian, Donnie Black, and Shannon Boyle.
“We are completely supportive of each other,” she said. “We do truly love each other and want to see each other succeed.”
A primary focus for Summers and her crew is to positively impact the lives of their listeners, whom she affectionally calls “XTU Nation.”
“Our job every morning is to provide hope through laughter,” she said. “Even though sometimes life really stinks, you’re not alone, and we’re going to get through it together.”
Summers describes WXTU listeners as the “best part” of her job.
“There’s nothing like country music fans,” she added. “They’re genuine and honest and demand that from you as well. They take me as I am, and the more flawed I am, I feel the more they love me.”
When Summers is not on the air, she’s often cheering on the sideline at Tori’s volleyball games or Leonard’s basketball or flag football games. Tori has committed to playing Division 1 volleyball at Rider University next year.
“I love watching my kids play sports,” Summers said. “I am in awe that I made such beautiful athletes. Every time they do something good, I stand up and yell, ‘I made him, or I made her!’”
Encouraging their teenage children to live their faith is important to Summers and her husband.
“I tell my kids that wherever you are in life, you’re going to hear what you need to hear when you go to Mass,” she said. “We have this amazing opportunity to not just go to Mass every day, but to receive the Eucharist.
“That is the most powerful thing about being a Catholic. It’s like nothing else.”
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