Cathy Hughes Marks 45 Years Of Radio One.

Cathy Hughes, affectionately known as “Miss H,” this week celebrated 45 years since founding Radio One, now the largest distributor of Black content in the U.S. Hughes reflected on the milestone during an appearance on “Get Up Mornings with Erica Campbell,” where co-host Mr. Griff called her the “queen and visionary” behind the network. With her trademark humor, Hughes corrected him: “It is Mizz Hughes. Don’t be blocking my blessings — I still got Erica and everybody praying for my man.”

Hughes took ownership of her first station at midnight on Oct. 4, 1980, a modest 1,000-watt signal she joked could only be heard outside the building. From those humble beginnings, she built a media empire reaching millions nationwide.

Despite her visionary leadership, Hughes emphasizes the collaborative effort behind Radio One’s success. “In reality, it ain’t nothing that I did… It’s our listeners, our viewers, our staff, our clients — who made this possible,” she said in the program, which is syndicated by the company’s Reach Media.

To commemorate the anniversary, Hughes hosted a staff brunch, bringing employees together from across the country to pray, sing, and reflect on their journey. “Six days ago we said, wait, let’s just all get together… and thank God for the blessing,” she said.

For Hughes, Radio One’s story is as much about faith and service as it is about business. “It’s really God’s blessing,” she said. Mr. Griff closed the conversation by honoring her legacy: “Miss H, we celebrate 45 years of Radio One… You are the best boss ever in real life.” Hughes laughed and replied, “Thank you. I love you.”