WLDX began in 1949 as WWWF, a 1000 watt daytime-only station, licensed to Bankhead Broadcasting Company. In the 1960s, WWWF began a format known as "Something For Everyone", and featured country in the mornings, a half-hour of gospel music at midday, easy listening until mid-afternoon, and rock music for the rest of the evening However, in 1980, WLDX changed to a full-time country music format.

In March 1986, Bankhead Broadcasting reached an agreement to sell the Fayette station to SIS Sound of Fayette, Inc. Once the deal was approved by the FCC, the call letters were changed to WLDX.

In 1996, WLDX was once again sold, this time to Thomley Broadcasting who would own the station until 2005. In 2005, the station was then sold to Dean Broadcasting. In July 2017, Dean Broadcasting agreed to a lease agreement with Hometown Radio Partnership of Fayette, Alabama and WLDX switched from a primarily country music format with local programming to a christian broadcasting format, playing a variety of christian themed programs & a blend of southern gospel and contemporary christian music. Sports programming was also included with WLDX carrying The University of Alabama Crimson Tide football & men's basketball, and Fayette County High School football. News programming was provided by the hard-right leaning Yellowhammer Network and the Alabama Radio Network. The local trade & sell program "Switch & Swap" was a constant fixture on the station since its beginnings in 1949.

In 2017, WLDX acquired an FM translator allowing the station to broadcast on an FM frequency, and 97.1 The River was born.

In July 2019, Lamar Broadcasting, Inc. signed a lease agreement with Dean Broadcasting. The WLDX format was changed to 70s, 80s & 90s hits, and the Big Cat 97.1 began. In addition to the music format, the Big Cat serves as the local sports home for Fayette County High School football, as well as other sports from area schools in Fayette County, including Hubbertville & Berry.

WLDX Big Cat 97.1 & its sister stations, WJEC 106.5 & WVSA 100.7, have signals reaching 15 counties in northwest Alabama and northeast Mississippi, serving a population in excess of 350,000 people. If you are interested in advertising with us & want an opportunity to reach a vast audience, give us a call or email today!