After receiving criticism from a minority of listeners, Ray Hadley has passionately defended the country music tunes he plays on air.

Ray addressed the “closet listener” complainers like Steve, who claimed a round of George Strait’s ‘The Cowboy Rides Away’ cleared his two cats out of the room.

“No one gets you in a hammerlock and makes you listen!”

He said no amount of “whingers” can convince him to stop giving country artists a spin.

“If I’m to come on here and pretend I don’t like country music, it wouldn’t be who I am,” Ray said.

“And that’s what the program is – it’s what I am.

“I get more compliments than I get complaints, but it’s usually people who don’t understand I’ve been doing this since 2002.

“Country music has always been part of my life.

“I figure [if] I’m going to sit here for three hours a day, five days a week and do it for 18 years, I’m entitled to at least listen to the sort of music I like.”

Click PLAY below to hear Ray’s comments in full

Country fans can tune into Ray Hadley’s Country Music Countdown every Saturday from 10pm.

Image: Getty