Author Archive: countdown

rss feed

Author's Website

LBT, Darius Fantasy Football

LBT, Darius Fantasy Football

| November 22, 2014

Little Big Town’s Jimi Westbrook is in a fantasy football league with Darius Rucker.  In fact, Jimi is the reigning champ, and as a result, has the championship belt on the group’s bus.  Jimi talked about it with Country Countdown USA’s Lon Helton: “It’s a WWF actual belt.  It’s huge, it’s as big as a […]

Read More

LBT Share Some CMA Stories

LBT Share Some CMA Stories

| November 22, 2014

Earlier this month, Little Big Town won the CMA’s Vocal Group of the Year Award for the third straight time. This week, they join Country Countdown USA’s Lon Helton to talk about that exciting night. Lon started by saying, You looked surprised!  “We were, we were stunned, we’re still stunned!”  Of course, after the awards, […]

Read More

Little Big Town Co-Host 11/22-23

Little Big Town Co-Host 11/22-23

| November 20, 2014

Little Big Town co-host the Countdown this week.  They just won the CMA Vocal Group of the Year for the third straight time.  They performed on the show twice.  The first time was in electric suits with Ariana Grande.  The second time was with Miranda Lambert.  They talk about both performances, plus tell stories about […]

Read More

Frankie Ballard’s Ride To #1

Frankie Ballard’s Ride To #1

| November 16, 2014

Frankie Ballard is doing great these days, with songs on the radio, and headlining his own Light ‘Em Up Tour.  But it’s been a long way from his home in Battle Creek to Music City.  Frankie talked about it with Country Countdown USA’s Lon Helton: Where were you born?   Battle Creek Michigan, which is southwest Michigan.  […]

Read More

Frankie Ballard ‘Thankful’ To Kenny

Frankie Ballard ‘Thankful’ To Kenny

| November 16, 2014

Frankie Ballard has a few turning points in his music career.  The first came when he was a teenager, watching Stevie Ray Vaughan on TV.  That led to him learning how to play guitar, and then playing clubs in his home area of Michigan.  But another critical moment came in 2008, when Kenny Chesney did a special […]

Read More

Sam Hunt Gets Debut #1

Sam Hunt Gets Debut #1

| November 16, 2014

Sam Hunt is having quite a week!  His debut album, Montevallo, was just released and topped the Country Album chart.  Then he got the news that the his first single, “Leave The Night On,” is #1.  Country Countdown USA’s Lon Helton & co-host Frankie Ballard called Sam this week to congratulate him: (Lon) Frankie was […]

Read More

Frankie Ballard’s Truck Stop Show

Frankie Ballard’s Truck Stop Show

| November 16, 2014

Frankie Ballard has played a lot of unusual places in his musical career.  But one that he’ll never forget is an Arkansas truck stop he played at 3 AM, thanks to John Rich.  Frankie told the story to Country Countdown USA’s Lon Helton: “John Rich called me up, and said, ‘Let’s write some songs this weekend.’  So […]

Read More

Frankie Ballard Co-Hosts 11/15-16

Frankie Ballard Co-Hosts 11/15-16

| November 11, 2014

You know him for hits like “Helluva Life” and his current one “Sunshine & Whiskey.”  This week, get to know Frankie Ballard as he makes his countdown co-hosting debut.  He’ll tell you how Kenny Chesney & Taylor Swift changed his life.  Frankie & Lon spent time together on the Blake Shelton Cruise and in Memphis, […]

Read More

TV For Toby Keith’s Daughter

TV For Toby Keith’s Daughter

| November 9, 2014

Toby Keith’s daughter Krystal released her debut album last year, and she spent the summer on the road opening shows for her famous father.  Now we hear she may have exciting things on her plate.  Toby revealed the news to Country Countdown USA’s Lon Helton: “There are some TV production people taking her to LA. […]

Read More

Backstage At The CMA Awards

Backstage At The CMA Awards

| November 9, 2014

The 48th Annual CMA Awards was a huge success, with over 18 million people watching on TV.  But a small group of people saw the show from a different place: Backstage.  Country Countdown USA was fortunate to be credentialed for the Media Room.  That means we got to ask questions of the winners, and sit […]

Read More