Brad & Carrie Offer an Inside Look at CMA Award Hosting Gig

Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood are in the final days of preparation for their hosting gig for Wednesday night's CMA Awards, writing and rehearsing jokes and one-liners. When you see them on the show, they seem like naturals, so how much is actual rehearsal and how much of it is off-the-cuff?

"We're pretty prepared before we go out," Brad tells The Boot. "Some of the best lines for last year's show, as well as the year before that, were developed together sitting in a room just a couple of days prior. Last year, one of my favorite moments came about 48 hours before the show. We were sitting around talking about how to end the monologue. We felt like it was really cool with all these songs and sort of parodies of old country songs, but it needed an ending. And [Carrie] said out of the blue, 'Don't Tim [McGraw] and Faith [Hill] both have fragrances?' And I loved that whole bit. For me to be able to call out Tim and Faith on the front row, knowing that when I said I was wearing McGraw, I knew what he would do. Because I know there's a part of Tim McGraw, as cool as it is and as many guys who wear it, he's a little bit horrified that there's a fragrance out there with his name on it, just like I would be. [laughs] And I'm sure he sells a lot, and it does smell great ... but to be able to call him out on it, and this being Carrie's total idea to do it, this way [was great]."

"In the whole scheme of things, we really start out reading what's on the teleprompter," explains Carrie. "And towards the end of the night, we're like, 'Nah!'"

"That goes so far out the window," Brad agrees.

In years past, Brad has made fun of Carrie for her many wardrobe changes and for being single. As Carrie is now Mrs. Mike Fisher, the jokes this year may involve her changed marital status. But does Brad ask her permission to joke about her personal life? "Technically I'm supposed to, but I probably won't," Brad tells The Boot. "She's a really good sport, and we know what we're signing up for. When you sign up to be a host, it's like, whatever you've got to wear, whatever it is that's funny, there's some of that, and we're both very willing to make complete and utter fools of ourselves for the sake of country music's well-being on that night. So, it's her fault if I poke fun at married life. We've had plenty of years making fun of how many dresses she's going to wear and trying to find a guy ... now it's time to make fun of the other end of the spectrum. I'm not going to check for approval. I'm just going to do it."

While the two kept the audience in stitches the previous two years of hosting the CMA Awards, the pair have gotten to know each other even better for the third time around. "We have so much fun doing it," says Carrie, who is up for two awards, including Album of the Year for 'Play On.' "I love Brad to death. He's like the big brother that I never had, he's always picking at me. It's always so much fun being around him, and just getting together and trying to figure out what's going to be funny, and what should be kept very respectful, and it's fun to know everybody's performances before everyone else does. [laughs]"

Check out their jokes and all of the great performances as the 44th Annual CMA Awards are broadcast live from Nashville this Wednesday, November 10 at 8:00 PM ET on ABC.