Luke Bryan and Dierks Bentley on Hosting ACM Awards: ‘It’s Game On’

For the second year in a row, Luke Bryan and Dierks Bentley will join forces as co-hosts at the 52nd Academy of Country Music Awards. The duo first teamed up last year, after Bryan’s former co-host Blake Shelton stepped down from hosting duties. Now, the two are ready to impress, especially now that Bentley has a year of experience.

“I’m excited to come back for my fifth year as a co-host. Now that Dierks has a year under his belt, maybe he will actually bring something to the table. Kidding!” Bryan joked in a recent interview with Billboard. “Dierks is a blast, and we have been working on ideas for months. It’s game on!”

While Bentley is feeling more comfortable in his role as ‘host,’ he did appreciate his longtime friend’s assistance in getting through last year’s broadcast.

“Last year I was the rookie and really didn’t know what to expect,” he shared. “From start to finish, being part of the creative conversations from the monologue to my performance makes the whole experience ­something I look that much more forward to this year. The show was loose and a lot of fun with Luke. I definitely want to carry that into this year.”

While the duo dubbed “Lierks” is busy preparing for their official duties, they are looking forward to getting out of Music City for a change of scenery in Las Vegas.

“My favorite part of the ACMs is the ­environment in Vegas, when all of Nashville comes to town,” said Bentley. “This show is just a total party, and I always look forward to getting out there and seeing everyone.”

The 52nd Academy of Country Music Awards will broadcast live from the new T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, April 2 (live 8:00-11:00 PM, ET/delayed PT) on the CBS Television Network. Fans can also catch the official red carpet pre-show for the awards with a live stream on Twitter on April 2, starting at 3pm PT/6pm ET.

See the full list of nominees HERE.