Event Information:

Regrettably, Sharon Brawner is no longer able to join us as previously scheduled for Let’s Talk Corvette. However, the event is still happening and we are excited to welcome the evening’s new featured speaker, Lon Helton! Lon has served as the President of the Board of Directors of the National Corvette Museum and has been passionate about Corvettes his entire life. Additionally, Lon is a beloved longtime country music radio personality, with a decorated career spanning more than five decades. Lon has been honored as the Country Music Association’s National Broadcast Personality of the Year an unparalleled 12 times. He was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame in 2022. We look forward to welcoming Lon to ACM next week on February 13 and we hope you can join us!

Let’s Talk Corvette will take place in the Showcase Gallery at LeMay – America’s Car Museum on February 13, starting at 7 pm. Enjoy a reception with snacks, beer, and wine before Lon’s presentation, which is to be held within our Corvette Creativity exhibit that is closing in March. Space is limited, secure your tickets now! ACM Members receive 50% off tickets.

Corvette owners are encouraged to drive their cars to the event, as special parking on the plaza will be provided on a first come first served basis, while available

PURCHASE TICKETS HERE

Get to Know Lon Helton:

Lon Helton’s 53-year industry career began as a disc jockey in Monmouth, IL following graduation from Monmouth College. On-air and program management posts took him to Galesburg, IL, Denver, Chicago and Los Angeles. He joined the radio and music industry trade publication Radio & Records as Country Editor in 1983 and became Nashville Bureau Chief in 1986. When Billboard Magazine bought R&R in 2006, Helton launched the Country radio and music industry trade publication, Country Aircheck.

A 2022 inductee into the National Radio Hall of Fame – only the fifth Country radio personality so honored — and a 2006 inductee into the Country Radio Hall of Fame, Helton has hosted Westwood One’s Country Countdown USA since its inception in 1992. He’s also hosted a variety of nationally syndicated Country radio shows since 1984, including the current Country’s Inside Trak, plus Country Close-up, Nashville Live, Country Star Traks, Listen In and more than 100 world premieres of new albums by country artists.

Helton has been honored as the Country Music Association National Broadcast Personality of the Year an unequalled 12 times and has been named the Academy of Country Music Broadcast Personality of the Year an unprecedented five times.

In 2021, Helton was presented with the “Angels Among Us” award, the highest honor bestowed by St. Jude Country Cares. Following Alabama band front-man Randy Owen’s call to action at the 1989 Country Radio Seminar, Helton became one of the founders of Country Cares For St. Jude Kids, which has raised almost $1 billion for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis. At a 2014 event commemorating the 25th anniversary of Country Cares, Helton received the Country Cares Founders Award from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

In 2020, Helton was honored with the Country Radio Broadcasters Humanitarian Award. A year prior, he became the sixth recipient of the Bob Kingsley Living Legend Award and was also presented the J. William Denny Award by the CMA for distinguished service to the CMA Board of Directors. Accolades also include the Distinguished Alumni award from his college alma mater and induction into his High School’s Hall of Fame.

He has served on the Country Music Association Board of Directors for the past 40 years and led the organization as President and Chairman from 1999-2002. He is also a 24-year member of the board of the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum and an eight-year member of the Country Music Foundation Board of Directors. He was also a 13-year board member and Past Chair of the National Corvette Museum Board of Directors.

Prior non-profit board involvement includes 25 years on the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Country Radio Advisory Council and 12 years on the Country Music Retirement Community Board.

Accolades from outside of the industry include his college Alma Mater’s Distinguished Alumni Award in 2012 and induction into the Monmouth College Hall of Achievement in 2017. He has also been inducted into his High School’s Hall of Fame.

Lon has been married to Anne for 52 years. They have two children, Amanda and Brad, and three grandchildren, Samantha, Presley and Ellie.