Randy Price out at WQYK, Cledus T. Judd in

Fans of the popular "Randy & Dave Show" on WQYK radio were shocked on Friday to find that long-time radio personality Randy Price had been replaced by country comic Cledus T. Judd.

Price, who has been with WQYK, 99.5 FM, for nearly 29 years, said he learned Thursday that his contract is not being renewed.

CBS Radio, which owns WQYK, announced late Thursday that country comic and recording artist Cledus T. Judd will be teamed with Dave McKay on the station's morning show. Judd debuted Friday morning.

Judd, 45, (Barry Poole) has sold millions of comedy albums featuring his parodies of country music songs. He previously was co-host of a morning show on WQYK that ran from 2005 to 2007. He was then paired with country singer Chad Brock.

That show faltered after Judd moved to Atlanta to be closer to his mother. Judd did a stint at an Atlanta radio station that lasted nearly a year. He is better known for his comedy albums and music videos.

Recently, Judd co-hosted "Nashville Star" and is a regular co-host for CMT's "Most Wanted Live." Judd plans to continue his comedy and recording career.

Price and McKay moved to the WQYK morning shift in 2007. The two were honored as the top country DJs in 2008 at the Country Music Association Awards and they are nominated again this year.

Price, who is 60, says he had a great ride at WQYK. "When it comes to radio jobs, there are first days, and last days, it is only the time in the middle that changes," he says. "What a middle - 28½ years - being part of one of America's great radio stations."

When he joined the station it was a "mom and pop" operation that later became part of Infinity Radio and then CBS.

"Along the way I had the chance to see so many wonderful things, and work with so many talented people," he says, recalling the late Tom Rivers, who ran the station in the 1980s and early 1990s.

"Tom laid the groundwork for WQYK to receive national recognition," Price says. "A job finished by Tom's guy, Mike Culotta," the current station operations manager.

Price and McKay were teamed together 14 years ago. "Dave and I have had fun making great radio moments," Price says.

"For now I am entering that mystery time of not knowing where you go from here. But with God's help I believe my feet will land on solid ground, and my voice on the radio," he says.

In announcing the hiring of Judd, Culotta said, "It's really exciting to have Cledus co-hosting mornings for us back home on WQYK where he belongs."