Frankie Ballard is Our In-Studio Co-Host Sunday Night at 7 on the Hawk

When Frankie Ballard stopped by the HAWK studios earlier this year to sing 'Sunshine and Whiskey,' we all knew it would be a hit.  As you can see from the video below, the dozen or so, including some lucky listeners, really enjoyed his magnetic personality and talent.

This Sunday night at 7, you can get to know Frankie a little bit better when he stops by 'Country Countdown USA' as our in-studio co-host.

Countdown host, Lon Helton has spent a lot of time with Frankie Ballard during his 4 year recording career.  They met in Memphis several years ago.  Then they hung out on the Blake Shelton Cruise.  Not to mention numerous concerts around the country.

Frankie's fans know he's a killer guitar slinger.  But could he hold his own with some veteran Memphis blues pickers?  Lon found out one night several years ago.  After a day at St. Jude Children's Hospital, Lon & Frankie went to Beale Street and B. B. King's.  Somehow, Frankie found a way to get invited on that famous stage.  What was the secret?  "I learned how to get myself on stage a long time ago."

Frankie credits Kenny Chesney for his big break, winning Kenny's Next Big Star contest in 2008.  "I tried and won, and got to open for him in Grand Rapids, and that was another big moment for me.  That gave me the confidence to move to Nashville.  That was such a cool thing for him to do, it really sparked my entire career, and I'll always be grateful."

Three years later, Frankie opened for Taylor Swift on her Speak Now Tour: "Her fans treated me like we were The Beatles.  I learned a lot from her.  Her show is so tight and well-rehearsed, I realized I had to change how I put my show on, and it's a lot tighter than it used to be."

Frankie is looking forward to hitting the road in January with Florida Georgia Line & Thomas Rhett on the Anything Goes Tour.  "I can't believe we're getting to go out on tour with those guys.  It's gotta be one of the hottest tickets in 2015.  I gotta big job to do because I think those ticket holders are expecting a big time, and my face is who they're going to see first, so I gotta be on my game!"

I think we're all looking forward to hearing more stories with Frankie Sunday night at 7 on 'Country Countdown USA.'  Listen on 98.1 the Hawk or listen live at 981TheHawk.com