Luke Bryan: ACM Awards Co-Host Gig Should Be ‘Idiot’-Free
Luke Bryan will make his debut as co-host of the ACM Awards on Sunday, April 7. The Georgia native, who will share duties with Blake Shelton for the three-hour live broadcast, is no stranger to hosting TV shows. His previous experience includes hosting countdown shows for the two major country-music networks, as well as co-hosting ABC's "CMA Music Festival: Country's Night to Rock" last year, alongside the Band Perry's Kimberly Perry. And although those experiences helped hone his skills in front of a camera, the ACM host gig is a completely different experience.
"The big difference between 'CMA's Night to Rock' is that it was all pre-recorded," Luke told The Boot and other reporters at a recent media event. "But I think from the first time hosting the countdown on CMT or GAC, hosting a radio show, it all puts feathers in your cap for hopefully preparing yourself for these moments. You have to learn them over time. For two years I said, 'You know,' 35 times in an interview and I had little tics you have to work out. I get on live TV and I look like I'm on a sailboat rocking back and forth. Someone has to come up to me and go, 'Stop doing that. You look like an idiot.'"
Luke acknowledges that collaborating on stage with Blake will be much different than co-hosting with Kimberly Perry.
"There won't be any comparison there. Kimberly is certainly a class act," he explains. "You don't expect crazy off-color stuff for her to say. We really enjoyed hosting together. She and I had a great time doing that. I think she's a darling in that role. I'm seven, eight years into this business, and she's three years into this business and she conducts herself way more professionally than I do. There's no telling what Blake's going to do!"
The 48th Annual ACM Awards will air live from Las Vegas at 8:00 PM ET on CBS. In addition to co-hosting, Luke is nominated for four trophies including Entertainer of the Year. See the complete list of nominees here.
Watch Luke Bryan's "Buzzkill" Video