If you spent any time listening to the airwaves in South Florida over the last thirty years, the name Jill Tracy (often spelled Jill Tracey) wasn't just a name on a program guide. She was a fixture. A force.
Honestly, finding out what happened to Jill Tracy is a bit of a gut punch for those who followed her career from her early days as a spicy South Beach gossip columnist to her long-standing reign as the "Queen of the 305" on HOT 105 FM.
She didn't just play music. She led the conversation.
The Shocking Departure from HOT 105
In June 2024, something happened that no one saw coming. Jill Tracy was abruptly fired from HOT 105.
It felt wrong. Fans were confused. One day she was the News Director and co-host of the Rickey Smiley Morning Show, and the next, she was gone. The station cited "financial issues" as the reason for the layoffs, but for a community that relied on her voice for everything from social justice talk to mental health advocacy, the explanation felt thin.
She had spent over a decade there. You don't just replace that kind of institutional knowledge and community trust with a generic playlist.
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A Final Chapter in Public Service
Jill didn't let the job loss slow her down for a second. She was a Detroit native with a Miami soul, and she decided to double down on her commitment to the people.
She launched a campaign for the District 2 seat on the Hollywood City Commission. It made sense. She had already served as the president of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) South Florida chapter. She was already an instructor for Urgent, Inc., helping kids learn media skills.
Politics was just the next logical step in her lifelong mission of "being a voice for the voiceless."
The Sad Reality of What Happened to Jill Tracy
The story takes a tragic turn here. On November 1, 2024, Jill Tracy passed away at the age of 60.
She had been battling health challenges behind the scenes. Even as she campaigned and remained a presence in the community, she was fighting a private war with her health. Her family later released a statement confirming her passing, which left a massive void in the South Florida media landscape.
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It’s hard to overstate the impact. People like Andrea Mercado from Florida Rising called her a "champion for justice on every block."
A Quick Note on the "Other" Jill Tracy
You might be here because you're a fan of the "dark cabaret" musician Jill Tracy. It’s easy to get them mixed up.
The musician Jill Tracy—known for her haunting piano work and "Sonic Séances"—is still very much active. As of 2026, she continues to work on her eerie, atmosphere-heavy projects. Her work at the Mütter Museum in Philadelphia and her 2022 release, The Secret Music of Lily Dale, have kept her in the spotlight for fans of the gothic and the macabre.
If you're looking for the singer, she's currently composing and likely exploring a haunted asylum somewhere. But for the millions in Miami, "Jill Tracy" will always mean the radio icon who fought for them.
Why Her Legacy Matters Now
Jill's signature sign-off was always, "Love ya! Mean it!"
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And she did. She used her platform to talk about racial equality and mental health when those weren't "trendy" topics for radio. She wasn't just a broadcaster; she was a mentor to countless young Black journalists in Florida.
How to Honor Her Work Today
If you want to carry on the spirit of what Jill Tracy stood for, there are actual, tangible ways to do it:
- Support Local Journalism: Jill was a fierce advocate for the NABJ. Supporting local Black-owned media outlets helps keep the diversity of voice she fought for alive.
- Engage in Local Politics: She died while trying to serve on a city commission. Most people ignore local elections, but that's where the real change happens.
- Mental Health Advocacy: She was open about the importance of mental wellness. Supporting organizations like the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is a great way to honor her advocacy.
Jill's life reminds us that a voice, once found, should never be silenced—even by the corporate "financial decisions" of a radio station or the physical limitations of a body. She left the airwaves on her own terms, fighting for a seat at the table until the very end.
Actionable Insight: If you are a resident of South Florida, look into the community organizations Jill supported, such as Urgent, Inc. or the Embrace Girls Foundation. Contributing your time or resources there is the most direct way to ensure the "Queen of the 305" continues to have an impact.