Sparta
The voice may be familiar to listeners across the country, but Marty “McFly” Selby still sees himself as a White County kid. After spending decades behind the microphone, traveling the country and building a successful career in radio, Selby is receiving one of his hometown's highest honors. The longtime broadcaster and host of the nationally syndicated McFly and The Ride was recently announced as a member of the TN Radio Hall of Fame's Career Class of 2026, with his official induction scheduled for July 25.
For Selby, the recognition is not simply a reflection of his accomplishments in broadcasting. Instead, he sees it as a tribute to the people, friendships and community support that helped shape his life from the very beginning. While his career has taken him far beyond White County's borders, he says the values and relationships that guided him have always remained rooted in home.
“It took a lot of people to get me where I am today,” Selby said. “It is a representation of people who took a chance on a kid who just might have something. I'm glad they did. I've had a great ride.”
That ride began in White County, where Selby grew up and graduated from White County High School in 1995. Long before becoming a recognizable voice in country radio, he described himself as a shy kid who never imagined a future that would involve speaking to thousands of listeners each day. His plans rarely extended beyond his hometown, and a career in broadcasting was not something he saw coming. But one introduction would ultimately change the course of his life.
Selby credits lifelong friend Hawk Harrison with opening the door to radio. Having grown up together from a young age, Harrison introduced him to the industry and helped him get his start. What began as a simple opportunity quickly developed into a passion that Selby knew he wanted to pursue. The energy of the station, the connection with listeners and the atmosphere surrounding radio immediately captured his attention.
“I was a shy kid, the one who would never leave his hometown, but radio hit me like a bolt of lightning,” Selby said. “It was completely out of character.”
From that moment forward, Selby knew he wanted to make a career out of broadcasting. “I fell in love with the vibe,” he said. Determined to chase the opportunity wherever it led, he committed himself to the industry and began building a career that would eventually take him across the country.
Over the years, Selby and Harrison spent 13 years on the road together, traveling extensively and working in radio markets throughout the nation. Their efforts helped them build audiences in communities large and small, while giving Selby experience in nearly every aspect of the business. One of the defining chapters of his career came during his time with The Country Giant in Cookeville, where the station achieved remarkable success, broke records and earned recognition as the top radio station in the nation.
After his years on the road, Selby continued expanding his broadcasting career with a five-year stint in Nashville as an on-air personality for 95.5 NASH. He also remained connected to local radio, spending time behind the microphone at WSMT and maintaining ties to the community where his career first began. Along the way, he earned awards and industry recognition, but those honors are not what stand out most when he reflects on his journey.
Instead, Selby says the relationships he has formed throughout the years remain his greatest accomplishment. Throughout a career that has spanned more than three decades, he has worked alongside countless broadcasters, station owners, musicians and industry professionals while also connecting with listeners in communities across the country. Those relationships, many of which began through radio, have grown into lifelong friendships and support systems that have stayed with him long after broadcasts ended and stations changed. While ratings, awards and industry recognition helped mark different chapters of his career, Selby says it is the people behind those moments that he remembers most.
The nature of radio allowed him to become part of listeners' daily routines, creating connections that often extended far beyond the airwaves. Over the years, he has watched colleagues become close friends, mentors become trusted advisors and listeners become familiar faces at events and appearances. Those experiences helped shape not only his career but also his perspective on success. For Selby, the true value of radio has never been found in the spotlight or the accolades, but in the relationships built through shared experiences and a genuine connection with people. Those connections, he says, have been far more meaningful than any trophy or professional milestone.
Looking back, Selby credits much of his success to the lessons he learned growing up in White County. He said he was not the picture-perfect student, but the community taught him something equally valuable: how to work hard. Raised around farms and surrounded by people who understood dedication and perseverance, Selby developed a strong work ethic that would later help him navigate the challenges of a demanding career.
“The people of Sparta showed me how to stay focused on a goal,” he said.
Today, Selby continues his broadcasting journey as co-host of McFly and The Ride alongside longtime friend Stew James. The show is syndicated to stations across the country, allowing him to connect with audiences nationwide while still sharing the same passion for radio that first sparked decades ago. Later this year, he plans to return to Cookeville for a live show, with additional details expected to be announced in the coming months.
Outside of radio, Selby has remained deeply involved in his hometown community. He hosts the annual Blue Light Ride in Sparta, an event that raises money for the Shop with a Cop program and helps provide Christmas gifts for local children. Like many of his accomplishments, he is quick to point out that the event's success is the result of community members who continue to support the cause year after year.
“It has only become successful because so many people have helped me out and jumped on board,” he said.
As he prepares to take his place among the other TN Radio Hall of Fame inductees from Sparta, Bill Winningham and Woody Phillips, Selby says the honor represents much more than an individual achievement. To him, it reflects the countless people who encouraged him, supported him and believed in him throughout the years. From his first opportunity in radio to his lifelong friendships and community involvement, he says every important chapter of his story traces back to White County.
“Everything that has happened started in Sparta,” Selby said. “From my start in radio to my lifelong friendships. It's the good people in White County who have always jumped on board and supported me.”
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