Chris Young Takes Over a HAWK Weekend

Chris Young is back this weekend co-hosting Country Countdown USA, Sunday night 7-10pm on 98.1 The Hawk.  You can also listen live on 981TheHawk.com or with the free HAWK App Radio Pup.

Chris has been a world traveler in 2015. Last spring, he went to Asia, and then in the fall, he went to Europe. "It's crazy where music can take you. I'd never been to Tokyo before, and then went to Australia, and headlined a big festival there. Then did 3 weeks in Europe. We did planes, trains, and automobiles so we could actually see the countries. So crazy that we sold out in London. That was one of my Top 10 shows ever. Just an amazing night."

Chris has been on the road this fall headlining shows around the country. In the past, Chris has done shows with Brad Paisley, Miranda Lambert, and Blake Shelton, and he's applying some of the tricks he learned with them on his own tour:

The first show on his US tour was at Nashville's new Ascend Amphitheater, and had a surprise guest: Brad Paisley. "I asked him if he would come out, and he said he had another event that night. I found out 3 songs into the show that he was able to make it. I was on stage, singing, and I heard a voice in my monitor that he was able to come. We never rehearsed. He came out and played the Eric Clapton song 'Change The World.' He just said, 'What's the key?' and absolutely slayed it."

One of the highlights of Chris's new album is a duet with 'The Voice' winner Cassadee Pope on a song called "Think Of You:" "I played a show with Cassadee, and from the minute she started to sing, I wanted to ask her to sing on my record. It's my first male-female duet, and it's such a cool song, and she sings her butt off."

Chris's 2015 tour wraps up in a couple weeks, and then what? "Christmas is my favorite time of year, gotta get my shopping done. My niece just turned 3, so she's understands presents. I've gotta get after it. New Year's Eve I'm taking off. I think I'll go down to the Gulf where I can smell the ocean and hang with friends. Back to work at the end of January."

Chris also has great stories this week about Lee Brice, Tyler Farr, Chase Bryant, Cam, Thomas Rhett, and Old Dominion.