Country Countdown USA

Welcome to Country Countdown USA

Each week a charted country star joins Lon Helton to count down the week's Top 30 Country Hits.
Lon is well-known by all the stars. The stars tell funny and unrehearsed stories about their friends in the countdown.

The show is recorded on Nashville's historic Music Row.

Country Countdown USA

LON WINS ACM AWARD!

LON WINS CMA AWARD!

CCUSA Co-Hosts:

MIRANDA LAMBERT is Lon's co-host 6/5-6

DIERKS BENTLEY co-hosts 6/12-13

JASON ALDEAN joins Lon 6/19-20

CLAY WALKER co-hosts 6/26-27

MARTINA McBRIDE in studio 7/3-4

BRAD PAISLEY joins Lon 7/10-11

LUKE BRYAN co-hosts 7/17-18

CARRIE UNDERWOOD is Lon's co-host 7/24-25

CRAIG MORGAN joins Lon 7/31-8/1

LITTLE BIG TOWN co-host 8/7-8

TRACE ADKINS is in studio 8/14-15

BLAKE SHELTON joins Lon 8/21-22

ALAN JACKSON is Lon's co-host 8/28-29

BILLY CURRINGTON co-hosts 9/4-5

JOSH TURNER co-hosts with Lon 9/11-12

COMING SOON: LADY ANTEBELLUM, KENNY CHESNEY

CCUSA NEWS

RADIO STATIONS: Looking for a unique show to bring star power to your radio station? Carry CCUSA!

Click HERE for details.

WHAT FANS SAY:

"Lon, you are awesome and provide me, a long time listener of your show, with all the up to date info & ask all the right questions of the artists to keep me informed. "

"Loved the show and also the clips from the interview that did not make it into the show. "

"Love the show been listening for years...I especially like hearing the stories Lon's weekly guests have to tell. "

"I love the show it is so nice to hear from the stars and see how "real" they are and what they are really like. It is refreshing to learn they are just like us."

"What's really awesome is having the Country Stars on with Lon! That's what makes country music so good."

"I spend Sunday night listening to your show in my kitchen where I know no one will bother me. Thank you for having awesome co hosts on you show."

"Lon and his co-hosts are always so entertaining. I love to hear the entertainers talk about the fun times they have on the road and in their lives."

I listen to Country Countdown USA every Sunday morning, I set my alarm clock so I won't miss it. . . love to hear the guests talking about their lives, their dreams and funny happenings."

CELEBRATING 18 YEARS!

Country Countdown USA began 18 years ago, with our first co-host Steve Wariner. During our first year, top stars such as Garth Brooks, Shania Twain, Vince Gill, Reba McEntire, and Brooks & Dunn joined Lon in our Nashville studio.

LON'S BIO

Lon Helton, has been the host of Westwood One’s Country Countdown USA since its inception in 1992. Lon is Editor and Publisher of Country Aircheck, a country music and radio information service. He oversees the compilation of the weekly country chart which is used in Country Countdown USA. Lon's country radio career began in 1971. He spent 12 years as both personality and programmer at KLAK/Denver, WMAQ/ Chicago, and KHJ/Los Angeles. He has served on the Board of Directors for the Country Music Association, and has served as President and Chairman.

Lon was named the CMA's National Broadcast Personality of the Year in 2002, 2004, 2006, and 2008. In 2009, Lon won the Academy of Country Music's National Personality of the Year. Lon was inducted into the Country Radio DJ Hall of Fame in 2006. Lon has been recognized as country radio's best-known star interviewer.

Country Countdown USA Co-Host

September 4-5: Billy Currington is Lon's Labor Day weekend co-host. Billy held a number of unusual jobs before he turned his attention to singing and songwriting. He worked in a pawn shop, did construction, and even was a fitness counselor. But there was one job that was the last straw, the one that caused him to say "take this job & shove it." Billy tells that story this week.

Come back for Lon's conversation with Billy Currington.

Here is Lon's conversation with Alan Jackson.

Alan talks about his summer vacation plans HERE

Alan on new Hall of Famer Don Williams HERE

Alan talks about selling his Nashville estate HERE

Alan recalls playing at a brunch for just $25 HERE

Alan talks about his 30th wedding anniversary HERE

Alan says he likes to draw pictures of people HERE

Tell us what you think! Go to the c-box on the left, type your name and message, and click GO. It's easy!

Alan Jackson's former Nashville home, Sweetbriar, sold in June.

Lon interviewing Alan in his Sweetbriar garage, sold in June.

Miranda Lambert & Dierks Bentley were in New York to announce the CMA Awards nominations. Miranda was the top nominee, with nine. Lady Antebellum was second with 7. Dierks picked up 3 himself. Plus, Country Countdown USA host Lon Helton was nominated for National Radio Personality of the Year!

GRAND OLE OPRY GETS READY FOR STAR-STUDDED HOMECOMING

Grand Ole Opry officials announced that the show, displaced from its permanent home due to May’s historic Nashville flood, will return to the Grand Ole Opry House with a star-packed show Tues., Sept. 28. Special events and artist appearances will follow throughout October in celebration of both the show’s return and its 85^th Birthday.

BIG RASCAL FLATTS NEWS! They sign a record deal with Big Machine, joining Taylor Swift and Trisha Yearwood. They also released a new single, "Why Wait," and announced their next CD will be out November 16. Plus Jay DeMarcus announces that his new baby will be a girl!



            TIM McGRAW, FAITH HILL, & SANDRA BULLOCK
                AT NASHVILLE RISING BENEFIT CONCERT

TIM & FAITH PRESS CONFERENCE FOR NASHVILLE RISING

Tim McGraw and Faith Hill spoke to the media Monday afternoon in advance of Tuesday's all-star Nashville Rising benefit concert. The two said they were touched by how many people lost everything they had in the flood last month. They immediately started planning the event that day. They're equally concerned about the oil disaster hitting the Gulf Coast.

STARS SHINE AT 2010 CMA MUSIC FEST IN NASHVILLE

May's flood hasn't dampened the enthusiasm of country music stars or their fans for their annual gathering in Nashville. The 2010 CMA Music Festival wrapped up Sunday night with Brad Paisley headlining the final Nightly Concert at LP Field. Taylor Swift spent the entire day Sunday with her fans, hosting her marathon 13-hour Meet & Greet. Music rang out throughout the four-day event. Tim McGraw gave his first scheduled CMA Fest concert in a decade, while Reba, Keith Urban, Rascal Flatts, Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert, and the Zac Brown Band among the many other artists performing at the Nightly Concerts. But the flood wasn't forgotten. The Country Music Association is donating proceeds from this year's event to Nashville's flood relief efforts.

WYNONNA & NAOMI ANNOUNCE THE JUDDS LAST ENCORE

The Judds are planning to make their "Last Encore." The noted mother-daughter duo will be hitting the road together one more time, launching "The Judds: The Last Encore Tour" this fall. The trek will begin on the day after Thanksgiving -- November 26th -- in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They'll wrap up their 18-date run in Phoenix, Arizona on December 19th. The Judds promise to pack their shows with fan favorites, but they'll also perform new music from their upcoming album. The country stars will make note of the season as well, peppering their set with holiday songs. "The Judds: The Last Encore Tour" will mark Naomi and Wynonna Judds' first road trip together in ten years.

BLAKE SHELTON POPS THE QUESTION, MIRANDA SAYS YES!

After dating each other for 5 years, Blake Shelton chose Mother's Day to ask Miranda Lambert for her hand in marriage. Blake gave Miranda a platinum & diamond engagement ring, which she proudly tweeted to the world. The announcement caps a milestone year for both. Blake won the ACM Vocal Event, which was his first award. Miranda picked up 3, including Album and Female Vocalist. No word on when the two will tie the knot.

CARRIE WINS ACM ENTERTAINER, LADY A WIN 5 AWARDS

It was a repeat for Carrie Underwood, as she won her second consecutive ACM Entertainer of the Year award. She became the first woman to ever accomplish that. Lady Antebellum picked up Group, Single, and Song of the Year. Brad Paisley won his 4th consecutive Male Vocalist.

JASON ALDEAN HAS THE #1 SONG OF 2009

There were hundreds of songs released in 2009, and many received radio airplay. But only one was the most-played song of the year, and it was "She's Country" by Jason Aldean. At the end of the year, CCUSA cost Lon Helton called Jason with the news. Listen HERE You can see out full Top 70 of 2009 HERE