Kix Brooks to Step Down as Host of ‘American Country Countdown,’ Ryan Fox Taking Over Duties

Kix Brooks is marking the end of an era, as he steps down from his nearly two-decade role as host of the national country music radio show American Country Countdown. Brooks’s final broadcast will air the weekend of Dec. 28-29, 2024.

Beginning the weekend of Jan. 4-5, 2025, country radio personality Ryan Fox will take over as host of American Country Countdown with Ryan Fox. Fox currently serves as on-air host, mornings, at Dallas country station KPLX/99.5 The Wolf.

Brooks took on the hosting role at American Country Countdown in January 2006, guiding listeners through each week’s top hits, while both entertaining them with his wit and humor, but also offering deep insights into artists, the country music genre and its rich history.

“I never dreamed I would be asked to host a legendary international radio show like American Country Countdown,” Brooks said in a statement. “The fact that I have been supported by hundreds of affiliates and an amazing team of radio professionals for 18 years has made this one of the greatest experiences of my professional life. It’s time to turn my primary focus back to writing, recording and touring with Brooks & Dunn. It’s been an honor, to say the least, that I was trusted with a microphone that had such an iconic history. Special thanks to all the fans who listened and participated, to ensure that I was being the best that I could be. Keep counting ‘em down!”

Brooks’s work leading American Country Countdown, which is broadcast to more than 300 station affiliates nationwide through Westwood One, was honored with the Country Music Association’s national broadcast personality of the year in 2009, 2011 and 2013, making Brooks the first person to win a CMA award in both artist and broadcast categories. He also claimed the Academy of Country Music’s radio award for national personality in 2021.

Fox said in a statement, “To be given the opportunity to take the reins on one of the longest running, most successful, Country countdown shows in the world and sit in the same chair as Hall of Famers like the legendary Kix Brooks and the late, great Bob Kingsley, is a tremendous honor. This is a terrific era for country music, and I cannot wait to count down the biggest country hits from coast to coast!”   

As part of Brooks & Dunn, Brooks just picked up a 15th win in the Country Music Association’s vocal duo of the year category during last week’s CMA Awards, held Nov. 20 in Nashville.