Growing up on Long Island, Suzanne Alexander stood out from her peers thanks to her love for all things country.
“I used to listen to American Country Countdown on the radio all the time and record it on my cassette on my boom box,” Suzanne recalls. “I was just obsessed.”
A childhood steeped in country radio sparked Suzanne’s early interest in broadcast, one that ultimately led her to a tenured career spanning the best of the west: from country music to western sports and agriculture.
“I couldn’t sing, I couldn’t write, I was just obsessed with music and said, ‘I can talk about it,’” Suzanne shares.
Suzanne’s broadcast career began on Long Island with an afternoon country music show, which afforded her introductions with record labels and artists that turned to friendships. Ultimately, Suzanne made her way to Nashville to continue pursuing her dreams. What she didn’t know, however, was that her career would soon evolve from the radio waves to the TV screen.
“TV came later for me,” Suzanne shares. “When I was doing radio in Nashville, a friend of mine said Great American Country (GAC) needed someone to host a special. I didn’t do TV, but I said, ‘Ok, I’ll try.’ I was bit by the bug to do country music broadcasting in a different medium.”
GAC became Suzanne’s broadcast home for many years, leading her beyond country music and into the world of rodeo. She traveled all across the country covering the professional and championship bull riding circuits, and when the broadcast was ultimately moved from GAC to CBS Sports, Suzanne made the switch.
One defining moment (among many) came during the National Finals Rodeo, when all around world champion Tuf Cooper took matters into his own hands mid-interview.
“In my ear, they always say don’t let go of the microphone because we’re live on television,” Suzanne recalls. “Tuf Cooper comes up, because he wins again, and he’s trying to grab the microphone. Finally, I acquiesce, and he gets down on one knee.”
He proposed to his girlfriend seated in the audience. “That actually went viral,” Suzanne laughed.
While having a front row seat to a championship athlete’s proposal was surely memorable, Suzanne’s career has also allowed her to interview some of the world’s biggest stars: Kevin Costner, Dolly Parton, Reba McEntire, the list goes on.
“GAC once did a show called 'Shortcuts,' and we interviewed a young girl from Hendersonville High School,” Suzanne shares. “I saw this beautiful young blonde-haired girl coming down the red carpet [of the ACMs] with her mom, and I gave her first interview at an award show live.”
It was Taylor Swift, who would go on to win more than 500 awards (and do likely as many interviews) to date.
Suzanne’s career has been defined by resilience, perseverance and a commitment to never stop learning. Where she once recorded the American Country Countdown on cassettes, she now not only writes the show, but fills in on air for her friend, Kix Brooks, when needed.
“Here’s the thing,” Suzanne says. “When they came to me and said GAC needed somebody to host a TV special, and I hadn’t done TV, I said yes. When you master a way to communicate, or whatever your job is, you get really good at THAT thing. You can then adapt and evolve as you go on to another position. Even if you think that’s out of your wheelhouse, don’t say no and take yourself out of your comfort zone. You never know what that opportunity will lead to.”
Years of saying yes, working hard and taking chances has landed Suzanne at RFD-TV’s Nashville studio, a television station dedicated to rural issues.
“My love of rural America, country music and rodeo all seems to wrap up with what I do at RFD-TV,” Suzanne says. “There were things I had to learn. It was baptism by fire, and I still have mess ups, but I study, I prep, and it’s been amazing.”
Follow along with Suzanne as she sheds light on rural America, agriculture and more, occasionally with the help of her friends in country music, on RFD-TV and on Instagram, @Suzanne_Alexander.
