diff --git a/modules/backend/widgets/Lists.php b/modules/backend/widgets/Lists.php
index c19f52522..63ee13e12 100644
--- a/modules/backend/widgets/Lists.php
+++ b/modules/backend/widgets/Lists.php
@@ -385,6 +385,11 @@ class Lists extends WidgetBase
          */
         foreach ($this->getVisibleColumns() as $column) {
 
+            // If useRelationCount is enabled, eager load the count of the relation into $relation_count
+            if ($column->relation && @$column->config['useRelationCount']) {
+                $query->withCount($column->relation);
+            }
+
             if (!$this->isColumnRelated($column) || (!isset($column->sqlSelect) && !isset($column->valueFrom))) {
                 continue;
             }
@@ -493,6 +498,11 @@ class Lists extends WidgetBase
                     : $column->valueFrom;
             }
 
+            // Set the sorting column to $relation_count if useRelationCount enabled
+            if (isset($column->relation) && @$column->config['useRelationCount']) {
+                $sortColumn = $column->relation . '_count';
+            }
+
             $query->orderBy($sortColumn, $this->sortDirection);
         }
 
@@ -506,7 +516,7 @@ class Lists extends WidgetBase
         /*
          * Add custom selects
          */
-        $query->select($selects);
+        $query->addSelect($selects);
 
         /*
          * Extensibility
@@ -840,20 +850,22 @@ class Lists extends WidgetBase
         else {
             if ($record->hasRelation($columnName) && array_key_exists($columnName, $record->attributes)) {
                 $value = $record->attributes[$columnName];
-            }
-            else {
+            // Load the value from the relationship counter if useRelationCount is specified
+            } elseif ($column->relation && @$column->config['useRelationCount']) {
+                $value = $record->{"{$column->relation}_count"};
+            } else {
                 $value = $record->{$columnName};
             }
         }
-        
+
         /**
          * @event backend.list.overrideColumnValueRaw
-         * Overrides the raw column value in a list widget. 
+         * Overrides the raw column value in a list widget.
          *
          * If a value is returned from this event, it will be used as the raw value for the provided column.
          * `$value` is passed by reference so modifying the variable in place is also supported. Example usage:
          *
-         *     Event::listen('backend.list.overrideColumnValueRaw', function($record, $column, &$value) { 
+         *     Event::listen('backend.list.overrideColumnValueRaw', function($record, $column, &$value) {
          *         $value .= '-modified';
          *     });
          *
@@ -895,12 +907,12 @@ class Lists extends WidgetBase
 
         /**
          * @event backend.list.overrideColumnValue
-         * Overrides the column value in a list widget. 
+         * Overrides the column value in a list widget.
          *
          * If a value is returned from this event, it will be used as the value for the provided column.
          * `$value` is passed by reference so modifying the variable in place is also supported. Example usage:
          *
-         *     Event::listen('backend.list.overrideColumnValue', function($record, $column, &$value) { 
+         *     Event::listen('backend.list.overrideColumnValue', function($record, $column, &$value) {
          *         $value .= '-modified';
          *     });
          *