CRS: Westwood One's Lon Helton Awarded Humanitarian Award

Cumulus Media’s Westwood One syndicated radio host Lon Helton received the Tom Rivers Humanitarian Award at the Country Radio Seminar (CRS).

This prestigious award is named for Tom Rivers, former WQYK PD and host of Westwood One holiday specials in the 1990s. The award, chosen by the CRB Board Of Directors, recognizes an individual in the Country radio industry who has given back to their community.

Lon is one of the founders and advocates of the legendary Country radiothon program, Country Cares For St. Jude Kids, which has raised almost $1 billion for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Last year marked the 30th anniversary of Country Cares For St. Jude Kids, which was started by Lon and Alabama's Randy Owen in 1989.

Lon said, “It is special and humbling to receive the CRB Tom Rivers Humanitarian of the Year award. Tom was a good friend who did so much to help the people and communities where he worked in country radio. It’s humbling because no group of people on the planet give back more that the people of country radio, records and the industry. It was an honor to accept this along with them; they are the true humanitarians of every day and every year.”

For the last 28 years, Lon has hosted Westwood One's Country Countdown USA and Country’s Inside Trak, where he is radio’s best known country star interviewer. He was named The CMA's National Broadcast Personality of the Year in 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, and 2018, and in 2009, 2012, 2014, 2016, and 2018, he won that honor from the Academy of Country Music. Lon was inducted into the Country Music DJ Hall of Fame in 2006. He is the Publisher of Country Aircheck and Editor of the Mediabase Country Chart. 

For more information about Lon Helton and Country Countdown USA please contact Bryan Switzer at bswitzer@westwoodone.com or 615-727-6987.