Lon Helton Reups With Country Countdown USA

Westwood One announced that it has signed a new, multi-year extension with Country’s best-known star interviewer, Lon Helton. Helton has hosted the Westwood One-syndicated Country Countdown USA since its inception in 1992 and will continue to do so for many years to come.

Lon Helton

Westwood One COO Charles Steinhauer said, “What more can you say about this program and Lon? For almost two and half decades they have created a special offering for the marketplace with unprecedented access and insight into the world of Country music. We are proud to be able to continue our partnership.”

Helton said “Westwood One and I have been together for almost 24 years, seven CMA and three ACM awards. I’m thrilled to continue a partnership that has created so many hours of great content and enjoyed so much success -- all thanks to the hundreds of great Country radio stations that carry Country Countdown USA and the Country stars who have been so generous with their time in joining me each week as co-host.”

In addition to his radio show, Helton is the Publisher of Country Aircheck, a leading Country news, media and information source.

Helton’s Country radio career began in 1971.  He spent 12 years as both on-air personality and programmer at stations in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Denver. He spent 23 years as Country Editor of Radio & Records before founding Country Aircheck in 2006. Helton is a member of the Board of Directors of the Country Music Association, the Country Music Hall of Fame, and the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky. He was named CMA “National Personality of the Year” seven times--in 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012 and 2014.  In 2009, 2012 and 2014, he won that honor from the Academy of Country Music. He was inducted into the Country Radio DJ Hall of Fame in 2006.