We are almost 24 hours out from “Country Music’s Biggest Night,” the 57th Annual CMA Awards. Broadcasted live from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee, the 2023 CMA Awards will air tomorrow (Nov. 8) on ABC, featuring must-see performances from stars like Jelly Roll, Morgan Wallen, Lainey Wilson, Kelsea Ballerini, Dan + Shay and more, plus dozens of other surprises. To top it all off, country superstar Luke Bryan and NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning will return as the show’s co-hosts for the second year in a row.
In an interview with Music Mayhem and other media, Bryan and Manning talked all things surrounding the 57th Annual CMA Awards, including the differences between last year and this year, what they are most excited for, and more.
Bryan and Manning Talk hosting for the second year in a row
Kicking off the conversation Luke Bryan revealed that he and Manning have been much more “chilled out, pragmatic, [and] calmed down” this year in comparison to last year. “We’re just comfortable now. Like, I know how he rolls… We know a little bit better about our comedic timing and how that’s going to roll,” he dished.
To follow the country crooner’s statement, Manning revealed that he is “honored to be back” for the second time.
“It was a lot of fun for me last year and I’m kinda the outsider here. The music was so great and seeing all the winners last year, the looks on their faces. As Luke and I kind of discussed last year, this is a life-changing moment for so many of these artists, and so I can appreciate that, and I’m looking forward to seeing some of those other life-changing moments tomorrow night. We got a great lineup of artists performing,” he teased.
While Bryan and Manning simply cannot contain their excitement for everything the 2023 CMA Awards have in store, they hope that things are smooth sailing this year, sharing a few laughs together while referencing some of the technical difficulties that occurred last year — most notably standing on the wrong marks to open the show, despite having countless rehearsals beforehand.
Concluding with a joke, Manning said that “seeing the look of disgust on Luke’s face as he had to endure Rocky Top” was one of the highlights of the 2022 CMA Awards. “Hopefully we have some other moments like that tomorrow night, but it really is just a really cool evening,” he gushed.
Bryan And Manning feed off of each other’s humor
As Bryan mentioned, the comedic timing between the pair is better than ever before for the 2023 CMA Awards, with both Bryan and Manning taking a deep dive into how they tend to feed off of each other’s humor.
“I think Luke and I certainly both have thick skin, and the more that the joke can be on us, we are for it, right? I think both of us believe in self-deprecating humor, as you can see right here in front of you, we don’t take ourselves too seriously, but this is supposed to be a celebration, and we’re not here to make anybody mad or disappoint anybody, so like I said, I feel like you and I are getting sort of the majority of the punchlines on us tomorrow,” Manning assured Music Mayhem and other media, teasing what his jokes will entail as one of hosts of the evening.
Bryan added, “If we can always kind of be a little more creative and not do, you know, the standard jokes that you would expect us to do to one another, you know, between football references — trying to tow that line and really not overdo it… We all sit there at the round table and go through them, and the most important thing is how would Peyton and I just say something naturally.”
A Dynamic Duo
While the duo makes jokes to please the audience, they confirmed that the overall goal is to have a good time on stage.
“At the end of the day, we want people having fun and smiling about what we’re up there doing. I think the one thing that a few people told me last year was ‘Boy, it looks like y’all were having a lot of fun up there’ and I think if people think we’re having fun, hopefully they’ll have fun,” Manning detailed. “I can promise you it didn’t look like we were having fun. We were having fun. I think that’ll be the case again tomorrow night.”
Bryan is most excited For Post Malone’s Collab With Morgan Wallen And HARDY
When asked what they are most excited about this year, Luke Bryan revealed that he is especially ecstatic about Post Malone joining forces with Morgan Wallen, and HARDY for a must-see performance.
“I’m always excited about the surprise moments of surprise performances,” Bryan gushed, before diving into how excited he is to see the trio onstage together tomorrow night. “It’s going to be great to see what they’re doing.”
Manning is most excited About the jimmy buffett tribute
The 2023 CMA Awards will feature a tribute to the late Jimmy Buffett from his longtime friends, including 11-time CMA Award-winner Kenny Chesney, 10-time CMA Award-winner Mac McAnally, 16-time CMA-Award winner Alan Jackson, and Zac Brown Band.
While Manning is “looking forward to the whole evening,” the highly-anticipated tribute to the “Margaritaville” singer/songwriter is one of the things the NFL Hall of Fame quarterback is most excited for.
“I love today and even tomorrow hearing every artist perform [and] I try to sneak out from kind of the things Luke and I are supposed to be doing and go watch Chris Stapleton sing, but I think the Jimmy Buffett tribute tomorrow will be special… remember the Loretta Lynn tribute last year. That was outstanding,” he dished.
Manning shared with a smile, “I talked to my buddy Kenny. There’s a very fitting person to have performed part of the Jimmy Buffett tribute, so I’m looking forward to seeing that for sure.”
Manning hopes to meet Lainey Wilson This year
Despite not being a part of the music industry himself, growing up in New Orleans, Louisiana and going to college in Knoxville, Tennessee has gotten Manning accustomed to the industry, “getting to know these artists as friends as well, not just as entertainers.” Building close bonds with stars like Kenny Chesney, Parker McCollum, Jordan Davis and more, there is one individual who the 47-year-old really wants to meet at the 2023 CMA Awards — the one and only Lainey Wilson.
“I really do value these friendships that I’ve made and I enjoy getting to know new ones each year. I did not get to meet Lainey Wilson last year. If you’ll help introduce us, she’s a Louisiana native, which I feel like I always enjoy meeting fellow Louisianans, and so I look forward to hopefully meeting her today or tomorrow as well,” Manning gushed.
With nine CMA Award nominations this year, as well as a performance that is sure to blow the roof off of Bridgestone Arena, hopefully the chart-topping superstar can squeeze in a minute or two to meet Peyton Manning.
To see Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning in action, catch the 57th Annual CMA Awards tomorrow night from 8pm to 11pm ET on ABC. It is certain to be nothing short of spectacular!
