Bob Lacey of The Bob & Sheri Show Now Calls Hilton Head Home
Off the air with Bob Lacey
Story by Barry Kaufman + Photography by Lisa Staff
With the simple press of a button, shades slowly emerge from their valances atop the Carolina room windows of Bob Lacey’s home office. As they obscure the view of the landscaped wonderland he’s created in his Sea Pines backyard, they also create a dramatic hush, dampening sound and creating an acoustic environment perfect for radio. It’s an auditory trick he’s used since the studios where he and Sheri Lynch recorded their nationally syndicated morning show were abruptly closed during COVID-19.
Thus, one of the most popular shows on the radio became a work-from-home gig for Lacey — at least until he retired this past February.
“I started working when I was 19 years old. I had to ask myself, ‘How long do I have to work, right?’ Plus, I just felt that it was better for the show to get a fresh voice in there,” said Lacey in timbered tones that have issued from more than 70 radio towers every morning for decades. “When you’re watching the Grammys and don’t know who half the people are, you may no longer be the mouthpiece of the culture. Sheri runs the show now, and she’s a better manager than I am.”
Already a 20-year veteran of radio, Lacey’s career truly hit its stride when he joined forces with Lynch in 1992. From their beginnings as morning drive-time comic relief in Charlotte, The Bob & Sheri Show would grow to reach nearly a million listeners worldwide. In an era dominated by shock jocks, the duo took a different tack, blending humor and heart with a perspective that welcomed women into the conversation.
“Sheri and I sitting across from one another — we were so compatible on the air,” Lacey said. “She’s not only the funniest woman in radio, she’s the funniest person in radio, male or female.” He pauses, then adds the proof. “After just a year on the air, Joan Rivers handed her a Gracie Allen Award for being the funniest woman in radio. I felt pretty vindicated.”
That easy chemistry anchored a rotating carousel of guest stars and celebrity interviews, along with the show’s defining element: real listeners. Their longtime slogan — Real people. Real laughs. — was no marketing line.
“We took calls from real folks all over the country,” Lacey said. “No fake calls, no safety net. The skill was pulling something funny or interesting from a caller live on the air.”
The guest list didn’t hurt. Lacey recalls interviewing James Taylor, an artist whose music he’d been spinning on air since he was 19. “I told him, ‘James, I can’t believe you’re here!’ and he said, ‘I can’t believe I’m here either!’” Lacey laughed. “I think he was referring to his colorful early years.”
Another frequent visitor was Jeff Dunham, who often appeared with his famously grumpy puppet, Walter. “Jeff would sit there with Walter on his lap, and while looking at Sheri, he’d move Walter’s head so it stared at me with total disgust,” Lacey said. “It was just a puppet, but it honestly freaked me out a little.”
For 32 years the show served as the culmination of Lacey’s extensive broadcast career, which began with his evening call-in program, Lacey Listens in 1971, and included an Iris Award-winning television show along the way. He watched radio evolve from its scrappiest days into a cultural powerhouse.
“FM radio wasn’t a big deal when I started,” he said. “It became big-time with album rock. That was a golden era for radio.”
That career earned him induction into the National Radio Hall of Fame last year. His wife, Mary, was there to cheer him on — and to snap a selfie with fellow inductee Alice Cooper. Soon after, they were back on Hilton Head Island, a place that had felt like home long before retirement made it official.
“People warned me that I’d wander around asking, ‘What’s my purpose?’” Lacey said with a laugh. “I haven’t had that problem. I drive by a horse stable every day. The island has this incredible natural feel. It still feels exotic, especially for a kid from Connecticut.”
Frequently Asked Questions About Bob Lacey
Who is Bob Lacey?
Bob Lacey is a longtime radio broadcaster best known as co-host of the nationally syndicated Bob & Sheri Show, which began in 1992 and reached listeners across more than 70 radio markets.
Is Bob Lacey retired?
Yes. Bob Lacey retired in 2025 after more than 40 years in broadcasting.
Does Bob Lacey live in Hilton Head?
Yes. After retiring from radio, Lacey and his wife Mary made Hilton Head Island their full-time home.
What is The Bob & Sheri Show?
The Bob & Sheri Show is a nationally syndicated morning radio program launched in Charlotte in 1992, known for blending humor, celebrity interviews and real listener calls.
