Delilah, a romance radio star, is filled with pride when fans phone in for help on her nationally syndicated weekly show. The self-proclaimed “Queen of Sappy Love Songs” tells PEOPLE exclusively that picking the right music for any scenario comes effortlessly to her.
“My brain stores lyrics, sometimes not the entire song, but just a line or two.” “My dad was the same way,” she explains. “Whatever line you spoke, he had a song to accompany it. I am the same way. But, unlike my father, he had a lovely singing voice. I don’t, therefore, I have other people perform the songs for me.
When Delilah pairs a song with a situation, she considers “the essence of the story” rather than simply one line or word, because “sometimes that doesn’t end up so well,” she confesses.
“I need to listen to the entire issue.” Sometimes people do the same thing,” she says. “They’ll phone and say, ‘I love my spouse so much, and we’re celebrating our 35th anniversary. Can you perform Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You?”
“I was thinking, ‘No, because that’s a breakup song. That song states, ‘No matter if we can’t be together, I’ll still adore you.’ ” That is not the message you want right now.”
Delilah reveals that Bette Midler’s “Wind Beneath My Wings” was her most requested song for 25 years. Now it’s “Perfect” by Ed Sheeran, which she describes as “a great song with so many situations.”
Delilah has helped numerous individuals over the years, but she has also experienced terrible pain behind the scenes. Her 16-year-old son, Sammy, died in 2012 as a result of sickle cell problems. She lost her 18-year-old son, Zack, to suicide five years later. Despite her grief, the radio presenter remains available to her listeners, offering them her open ears and heart.
“When I’m hurting or empty, and I open my heart to share with someone else, I’m filled up,” Delilah tells me. “There are moments when I have nothing left. Some nights, I accept calls that exhaust me, and I have nothing left. When others demand something from you, it drains you; however, when someone has a need and you rise to meet that need, you are the one who is fully energized.
Despite her difficulties, the mother of 15 maintains optimism and hope for life “by interacting with my children and grandchildren, because they’ll be here long after I’m gone.” She leverages that sense of accomplishment, paired with her experiences, to better connect with her audience.
“Every individual you meet has a different story. We often overlook individuals such as the homeless, the elderly, and the terminally ill. “They’re loved, valuable, and precious,” she says. “When people listen, I want them to understand that this is the truth. Nobody has an intellect or a heart like yours, which is what makes you so special and valuable.
The author of One Heart at a Time considers it “the highest compliment” when people tell her that her program has become a part of their life.
“When someone says, ‘I grew up listening to you. I made my kids listen to you in the car, and now my grandkids… There is no greater praise than becoming a part of someone’s life, their family.
“When you offer your story, courage, and hope, you have a genuine influence on others. Many people provide advice based on what they have read or been taught. But when you’ve been through something and can assist someone else going down the same route you did, that’s the finest advice because you know the way.”
Delilah advises individuals seeking connection in an increasingly isolated society to “set aside their devices and engage with others directly.”
“They’re a terrific tool for things like FaceTime calls with your grandchildren or viewing a movie with your closest buddy. But when they become a substitute for genuine connections, they are lethal,” she tells PEOPLE.
“Kids do not go outside to play anymore. They are sitting in a room with a gadget. Adults do not meet their closest buddy after work to laugh and arrange a weekend camping trip. “They sit on their devices.”
Delilah not only talks about the importance of communication but also practices it. Delilah asserts that her teenage daughter can only use a flip phone for emergency calls. When she arrives home from school, she completes her schoolwork and spends time with her family.
@radio.delilah 1-888-633-5452 is my studio request line. @#radiodelilah #thankgodforeverything ♬ original sound – Radio Delilah
She has taught her children the value of interpersonal relationships. Her enduring advice is to accept everything life has to offer, even the “ups and downs.”
“Life is precious. It’s amazing with all of its ups and downs, including storms and death”. There are so many opportunities for pure beauty, joy, love, laughter, and miracles,” Delilah says. “If you’re staring at a screen all day, you’ll miss the deer by the creek. You are missing the parks. There is so much beauty around. Don’t miss it because once it’s gone, it’s gone forever.”