Sam Hunt is Coming to New York

We're just a couple weeks away from the 58th annual Grammy Awards. It seems like everyone I talk with in the Greater Binghamton area have their own predictions on who will win music's biggest honor.  One name that seems to surface more than any other is Sam Hunt.  It just so happens Sam is our co-host on Country Countdown USA, Sunday night 7-10pm and if you're a SH fan, you don't want to miss it!

He's up for Best Country Album and the all-genre New Artist of the Year. Sam told co-host Lon Helotn, "It's cool, I've been fans of all those guys and watched them be successful. They've all had really great years." Sam added that he's bringing his whole family to the Grammys in New York: We'll be going out a few days before the Grammys, my mom, dad, and brothers are coming out too."

Sam will perform on the Grammy telecast with 7-time winner Carrie Underwood. The two can be heard on the Hawk together on Carrie's current hit "Heartbeat." Lon asked Sam about singing with Carrie: "Her voice is such a familiar and recognizable thing. When I heard it, I had flashbacks of riding around in my car listening to her voice when I was in college, before I was able to make a record of my own." Have you met her? "I have a couple times. The first time was at the CMT Awards. And she was also at the American Music Awards, so we got to talk there."

This summer, Sam will join Kenny Chesney for his stadium shows. He wrote "Come Over for Kenny.  Sam told Lon he just ran into Kenny a few weeks ago. "I just saw him about 3 weeks ago. I walked in this restaurant in Santa Monica California, we were in town to do The Voice, and he was sitting there with his girlfriend in the front of the restaurant. I got to hang out with him for a few minutes and chat about this next year."

Back in November, Sam was named the all-genre New Artist of the Year at the American Music Awards. "All this stuff is so new to me. The thing that surprised me most was the company in the category. The other artists are global stars. When they called my name, I have to admit I was a little surprised."

Sam has known Chris Stapleton for a few years, but was surprised to find out that his kids are Sam Hunt fans: He brought his whole family to my Nashville show a couple months ago, and his kids are apparently fans of mine. They had t-shirts on with my name. They actually know all the words to my songs, they were out there singing the whole time. I've seen them at a few other events around town. It's the cutest thing."

Sam also has great stories this week about Blake Shelton, Thomas Rhett, Keith Urban, and Florida Georgia Line.

Don't miss Country Countdown USA Sunday night 7-10pm on 98.1 The Hawk and download the FREE Hawk app Radio Pup to your smartphone or tablet, right HERE.  Radio Pup is also available for FREE in the Apple iTunes and Google Play stores.