Yvette Bullard-Dillard
Montgomery’s First Lady of Gospel Music
Yvette Bullard-Dillard is the proud daughter of Mrs. Jessie Bullard Evans and the late Reverend Dr. Bernard Gram Bullard. Yvette was born in Tuskegee, AL and was educated in the Montgomery Public School System. She is a graduate of George Washington Carver High School where she received an Arts diploma with a focus on Mass Communication. She was a part of the 2nd graduating class from the CPAC program under the tutelage of Mrs. Earlene Hollinger.
Upon graduation, Yvette was employed with WQIM-Magic 95fm in Prattville, Alabama where the late Frenche Be’ provided on the job training. She hosted an overnight segment and an early morning gospel show where she was known as Yvette Bullard, Yvette King and Lady V, the weather girl. In 1989, Yvette became the first gospel announcer that was hired at 105.7 fm. She had a weekly show which was entitled, INSPIRATIONS FOR SUNDAY MORNING (6am until 11am). This gospel program took the market by storm with ratings of a 55+ share which in translation means over 55% of this market tuned in for INSPIRATIONS. These ratings were unbelievable for a gospel program. In 1998, a new station was launched and Yvette hosted the mid-day gospel program-JOY IN THE MID-DAY on 1043 FM gospel and blues. Also, she was given the task of handling the programming of the music. In 2000, Yvette launched a gospel video show entitled INSPIRATIONS which aired on Fox-TV 20 every Wednesday at 2:30pm. In 2002, Iheartmedia selected Yvette to host the afternoon drive show entitled, THE RUSH HOUR OF POWER which aired Monday –Friday from 2:00pm until 7:00pm on 1043 Hallelujah fm.
The First Lady is the founder of FIRST LADY PRODUCTIONS which is responsible for promoting gospel entertainment in this market. She and her staff are responsible from bringing gospel giants like the late Joe Ligon & the Mighty Clouds of Joy, Lee Williams & the Spiritual QC’s, The Canton Spirituals, The Williams Brothers, Doc McKenzie and the Hi-lites, Keith “the Wonderboy” Johnson, Bishop Darrell McFadden, The Gospel Four, The Mississippi Mass Choir, Evangelist Dorothy Norwood, Dottie Peoples, The Lumzy Sisters, Blest by Four, The Anointed Brown Sisters, The Brown Singers and many more. The First Lady has received numerous awards for the ministry and community involvement. She was awarded as Gospel Announcer of the year for 7 consecutive years by McDonalds. For 20 years, she played an active role in the Sickle Cell Radio-thon which assists the Greater Foundation of Sickle Cell in providing services for patients, education, etc. Also, she hosted the radio-thon for St. Jude Children’s’ Research Hospital raising over $100,000 for three consecutive years. THE FIRST LADY received the key to the city of Montgomery from the late Tommie Miller. Recently, she was given an award from the Alabama Broadcasting Association for the podcast, Straight from the Pastor’s Pulpit. Yvette has been spotlighted in several newspapers throughout the state for her involvement with the youth. She has served as guest speaker for a number of Women Day Celebrations, and was the commencement speaker for the Autaugaville High School Graduation, etc.
Yvette has always known the importance of education; she received a Bachelor’s of Science degree in English with a minor in Print Journalism; a Master’s Degree in Language Arts Education and certification in Administration/Supervision. Presently, she is pursuing an Education Specialist degree in Instructional Leadership at the University of West Alabama. She has served in different capacities as an educator in the state of Alabama for over 22 years.
She is the wife to Pastor Michael Dillard and the mother of two wonderful sons: Michael Anthony Dillard, II and Evan Michal Dillard.
The Dillard’s are members of Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church where Reverend Walter Ellis is the pastor. Presently, her husband is the pastor of Lily Grove Missionary Baptist Church (Selma) where she serves as the First Lady.
Yvette is a collector of eagles and her life motto is derived from two scriptures: Phillippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” and Isaiah 40:31 “But they that wait upon the Lord shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary: and they shall work, and not faint.”