"They didn’t have to do much roping,” the Checotah native said with a laugh during a recent phone interview. "Brad and I have been paired together on a lot of stuff, and we have a really good chemistry. He’s definitely a good friend of mine, so they didn’t have to talk me into it very much. I was in from the start. I’m nervous, and I’m excited about it.”
"The 42nd Annual CMA Awards” will air live from the Sommet Center in Nashville, Tenn., from 7 to 10 tonight on ABC. As the CMA’s reigning male and female vocalists of the year, Paisley and Underwood are natural picks to co-host the show, even if they’ve never done it before.
The association tried a no-host format last year but decided that someone was needed to guide this year’s show, Underwood said.
"It’s kind of our job to carry the show. And if we do a good job, people know it, and if we do a bad job, people know it, too. So, you just want people to focus on the winners and ... the performances and all that good stuff. You don’t want them to focus on what a crappy job you’re doing,” she said with a laugh.
Along with hosting, Paisley and Underwood will perform. They also are nominated for multiple awards and have the chance to again be named the year’s best male and female vocalists.
Although she has won many awards in her whirlwind three-year career, Underwood still feels honored to get a nomination.
"So many people work so hard to make my world go around, and it’s not just a nomination for me. It’s like it’s definitely a nomination for all those people, as well,” said Underwood, who also is nominated for album of the year for "Carnival Ride.”
Along with Underwood, Oklahoma CMA nominees include Miranda Lambert, Reba McEntire, Trisha Yearwood, Ronnie Dunn of Brooks & Dunn and Joe Don Rooney of Rascal Flatts.
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Sorry, I don't watch shows hosted by people who won by a dial-up show. I'd rather go see the Eagles again...real talent that had to work their way to the top.
The Country Music Association’s "42nd Annual CMA Awards” will air live from the Sommet Center in Nashville, Tenn., from 7 to 10 tonight on ABC.
Follow entertainment writer Brandy "BAM” McDonnell’s live-blog of the show tonight online at blog.newsok.com/bamsblog.
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