Charles Kelley Co-Hosts a Hawk Sunday Night

Charles, Hillary and Dave of Lady Antebellum were in Endicott playing the Dick's Sporting Goods Open just 6 months ago and they loved it.  A lot has changed in 6 months.  For example, Charles Kelley was playing with Lady A and working on a solo career behind the scenes. Click HERE to find out how you can see Charles live on the next HAWK Flyaway including a chance to have dinner with Charles before the show.

Sunday night 7-10pm, Charles Kelley will be counting down country music's top 30 hits of the week, co-hosting the popular 'Country Countdown USA' on 98.1 The Hawk. Charles will talk about new music, touring and family. Download the FREE HAWK listening App Radio Pup, HERE. Also, available in the iTunes App and Google Play stores.

More good news recently with the arrival of Baby Antebellum! Charles and his wife Cassie just welcomed a son, named Ward Charles Kelley. The proud pop explained his son's unusual first name to Country Countdown USA's Lon Helton: "It's a family name on her side. I didn't want his first name to be Charles. I didn't want to yell across the room, 'Charles Junior!' 'Charles Senior!'" During our recording session, Charles received a call from his wife, saying the contractions were getting closer, so we knew it was coming soon.

Charles also told Lon he's prepared to become a first-time dad: "I've been around Hillary & Dave's babies on the road, so I've got to see a lot, and I know when it becomes time, it's trial by fire. My wife's been reading a lot of things. I have a quiet confidence that I'm gonna know what to do. The only thing I'm scared about is sleep. Because when I don't sleep, I get run down, and my voice goes."

Of course, now that the baby is born, Charles may attend the Grammy Awards taking place Monday. He told Lon that his wife wants him to attend, and he may fly out the day of the show. Charles is nominated for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group. He told Lon, "When I found out I was nominated, I looked at the other songs in the category, and when I saw Little Big Town's 'Girl Crush,' I know they're going to win."

The other thing happening this weekend is the annual Pebble Beach Celebrity Golf Tournament. Charles is missing it this year. He told Lon, "It was so funny, I started making plans several months back, I asked Cassie about where I should stay, and she goes, 'Our due date is the 17th!' Aw, I'm an idiot! So not this year."

Charles just released his debut solo album titled "The Driver" last week. He told Lon, "This journey has had its moments of doubt for me. Darius Rucker told me 'You're gonna find you have to start as a fresh new artist.' People aren't associating me with the tall guy from Lady Antebellum. It's been humbling. My wife was in the audience at a few shows, and she said these two guys listened to the first two songs, and didn't know who I was until I sang a couple Lady Antebellum songs. They go, 'Wait, that's that dude from Lady A!' So it's humbling to be a new artist again, and that's what I signed up for."

Charles will do his own solo tour in April and May. But there also are some Lady Antebellum shows this summer. Lon asked Charles what Hillary & Dave are doing: "Hillary has been working on a gospel album with her family. She's got Ricky Skaggs producing. Her entire family sings, she played me a couple tracks, and it's going to blow people away. Dave is producing another trio, so we've been keeping busy."

Charles also has great stories this week about Sam Hunt, Darius Rucker, Kelsea Ballerini, Chris Stapleton, Dierks Bentley, and Brett Eldredge.