Carla Metts Gebhart is an American sports journalist, television anchor, and NASCAR broadcaster best known as the host of NASCAR Countdown Live on The CW Network.
She built her career step by step, from a production assistant in South Dakota to a national sports host covering one of America’s most popular motorsports series.
Her Emmy Award-winning work in Charlotte made her a household name across the Carolinas. Now she brings that same energy and expertise to a national audience every race day.
Who is Carla Metts Gebhart?
Carla Metts Gebhart is a nationally recognized sports broadcaster based in the United States. She is best known for hosting NASCAR Countdown Live, the pre-race studio show that airs on The CW Network before every NASCAR Xfinity Series race.
She spent nearly five years at Queen City News (WJZY-TV) in Charlotte, North Carolina, where she rose to become sports director.
During that time, she led coverage across multiple sports, including NASCAR, NFL football with the Carolina Panthers, NBA basketball, and college athletics.
Gebhart is known for her confident on-camera delivery, her strong storytelling skills, and her genuine love for sports.
Her ability to connect with fans and athletes alike has made her one of the most respected voices in regional and national sports media. That reputation is what landed her on a national stage.
Early Life of Carla Metts Gebhart
Carla Metts Gebhart was born and raised in the United States. She grew up in Dublin, Georgia, where she developed a passion for sports from a young age.
Her parents, Wanda Metts and Mr. Metts, were her biggest supporters throughout her formative years.
She grew up alongside her brother Chan Metts, who went on to become the head Men’s and Women’s Golf Coach at Charleston Southern University. Sports clearly ran in the family.
During high school, Gebhart was active in athletics. She played tennis, volleyball, and basketball.
Those years gave her a deep appreciation for competition and the stories that live inside every game.
Carla Metts Gebhart Age
Carla Metts Gebhart celebrates her birthday on September 17. Based on her graduation from Georgia Southern University in 2014, she is believed to be in her early 30s as of 2026. Her exact birth year has not been publicly confirmed.
She has remained active and energetic throughout a demanding broadcasting career that involves constant travel, live coverage, and high-pressure live environments.
Carla Metts Gebhart Ethnicity and Nationality
Carla Metts Gebhart is American. She was born and raised in the United States, specifically in Dublin, Georgia. Her nationality and background have never been a source of public controversy or confusion.
She has spoken openly about her Southern roots and describes herself as fluent in Southern vernacular, a phrase she even uses in her Instagram bio.
Carla Metts Gebhart Education
Gebhart attended Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, Georgia. She graduated in 2014 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Communication Studies and a minor in Journalism.
College was more than academics for Gebhart. She served as a four-year captain of the co-ed cheerleading squad for the Georgia Southern Eagles. That experience shaped her as a leader.
It also led to one of the most memorable moments of her life, when her Georgia Southern team upset the North Dakota State Bison in 2012, a game that would end up changing her personal life as well.
Carla Metts Gebhart Career
Gebhart entered broadcasting with a clear goal in mind. From high school onward, she knew she wanted to work in sports journalism.
College gave her the tools to pursue it. She never looked back.
Early Career
After graduating in 2014, Gebhart took her first professional step in March 2015 when she joined KELO-TV in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, as a production assistant.
The role was behind the scenes, but it taught her how a newsroom works from the ground up. She moved into a more visible position later that year.
From August 2015 to December 2017, she worked at Midco Sports Network in South Dakota as a reporter, producer, in-studio host, and sideline reporter.
She covered FCS football and mid-major college basketball, building her on-camera skills and learning to perform under the pressure of live television. This period also brought one of her most defining moments.
Gebhart received a nomination for a 2016 Upper Midwest Regional Emmy Award in Sports Program Series for her work on a Midco Sports Magazine story titled “Conquered Barriers.” That nomination signaled that her talents were being noticed.
Major Positions Held
In 2020, Gebhart joined Queen City News, also known as WJZY-TV or FOX Charlotte, as a sports anchor and reporter.
She arrived in Charlotte as part of an expanding sports operation, and she wasted no time making her mark.
That October, she helped launch Charlotte Sports Live, a nightly sports program that quickly became one of the most-watched local sports shows in the country.
Her work on the show earned praise from colleagues and audiences alike.
By 2023, her impact was undeniable. On September 1, 2023, she was promoted to Sports Director of Queen City News, making her the lead anchor of the largest local sports team in the Carolinas. She held that role with pride.
Current Role
In January 2025, The CW Network announced its broadcast team for the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series season.
Carla Metts Gebhart was named as the host of NASCAR Countdown Live, the one-hour pre-race studio show that airs before every race.
She left Queen City News in May 2025 after nearly five years at the station. Her move to The CW marked a significant step forward, taking her from strong regional recognition to a national broadcast audience.
The CW’s coverage of the NASCAR Xfinity Series began on February 15, 2025, from Daytona International Speedway.
For the first time in series history, all 33 Xfinity Series races became available on free, over-the-air broadcast television. Gebhart stands at the center of that coverage every race day.
Carla Metts Gebhart Notable Coverage
Throughout her career, Gebhart has covered a wide range of sports at the local and national level.
At Queen City News, she served as the lead anchor for multiple programs, including Charlotte Sports Live, Black and Blue Kickoff Live for the Carolina Panthers, and Around the Track, the Emmy Award-winning NASCAR show that aired regionally and nationally.
She also covered the NFL’s Carolina Panthers, the Charlotte Hornets of the NBA, and college athletics across the Carolinas.
Her work demonstrated the kind of versatility that made her a standout in a competitive industry. Covering the Daytona 500 as a videographer early in her career was a turning point.
Being in the garage area and feeling the intensity of NASCAR firsthand deepened her passion for the sport.
That experience laid the groundwork for everything that followed in her motorsports career.
Carla Metts Gebhart Awards and Recognition
Gebhart is an Emmy Award-winning journalist. Her award recognizes her talent and commitment to sports broadcasting over the course of her career.
She was also nominated for a 2016 Upper Midwest Regional Emmy Award in Sports Program Series during her time at Midco Sports Network.
The nomination came for her reporting on a story called “Conquered Barriers,” which she worked on as part of a team.
Her colleagues at Queen City News also recognized her achievement. News Director Casey Clark described her as someone who had taken initiative in all aspects of the operation and earned her promotion to sports director.
Sports Executive Producer Christian Audesirk praised her as an excellent leader and role model who never hesitated to jump in when teammates needed help.
Georgia Southern University later invited Gebhart back to campus to speak to students about her career path.
It was a full-circle moment for her, returning to where it all began as a role model and professional voice in the industry. The invitation said everything about how far she had come.
Carla Metts Gebhart Husband
Carla Metts Gebhart is married to Trevor Gebhart, a former North Dakota State University football player who played as a wide receiver for the Bison. The couple met while Carla was covering the NDSU team during her time at Midco Sports Network.
Their story began in an unlikely place. Carla was a Georgia Southern cheerleader at the legendary 2012 game in which Georgia Southern upset the powerhouse NDSU Bison.
Trevor was on the losing team that day. It turned out to be the start of something much bigger.
The two got married in April 2017, in a ceremony held in Dublin, Georgia. They celebrated their sixth wedding anniversary in April 2023.
Trevor describes himself as a certified sports fanatic, a fitting match for a national sports broadcaster. It is a sports love story in every sense of the phrase.
Carla Metts Gebhart Children
Carla Metts Gebhart and Trevor Gebhart are the parents of two children. Their son is named Jhett and their daughter is named Everly.
Despite a demanding broadcasting schedule that involves frequent travel and live coverage, Gebhart has spoken openly about how important family life is to her.
She and Trevor work together to balance two busy careers with active parenting. Gebhart is also a certified personal trainer.
She often talks about her faith, which she sees as a core part of who she is. These values inform how she approaches both her personal and professional life. Family comes first, no matter what the broadcast schedule looks like.
Carla Metts Gebhart Net Worth
Carla Metts Gebhart’s exact net worth has not been publicly disclosed. Her income comes from her work as a sports anchor, television host, and director across regional and national broadcast television.
During her time as sports director at Queen City News, Gebhart led one of the largest sports teams in the Carolinas and hosted multiple shows with regional and national syndication.
Her move to The CW Network in 2025 as the host of NASCAR Countdown Live represents a significant step up in platform and visibility.
These roles in sports television typically carry salaries in the mid-to-high five figures annually, though no specific figures for Gebhart have been publicly confirmed.
Carla Metts Gebhart Social Media
Gebhart is active on social media and uses her platforms to connect with fans and share moments from her broadcasting career.
Her Instagram handle is @cmetts91, where she describes herself as a mom who is fluent in Southern vernacular, a reference to her Georgia roots.
She is also active on X, formerly known as Twitter, where she posts updates from NASCAR broadcasts and sports events. Her social presence reflects the same approachable style that has made her popular with viewers.
Gebhart has more than 7,000 followers on Instagram. Her content spans race day coverage, family moments, and personal reflections tied to her faith and fitness.
Her online presence is as warm and direct as her on-camera style.
The Bottom Line
Carla Metts Gebhart built her national broadcasting career the hard way, one assignment, one market, one promotion at a time. She is exactly where she worked to be.
