Luke Bryan and Dierks Bentley Will Not Host 2018 ACM Awards
Bryan and Bentley are out!
The Academy of Country Music is shaking things up for the 53rd annual ACM Awards as Luke Bryan and Dierks Bentley will not return as hosts this year. The news came as a surprise to those attending the Country Radio Seminar Keynote speech after a reporter asked about this year’s show.
“Yeah, we got fired this year. That’s over,” joked the singer (quote via The Boot). “Is that not public knowledge? I’d assumed it is.”
Joking aside, Bentley praised the ACMs, where he’d been a host for two consecutive years alongside Bryan. “We did two years, I love Luke to death, he’s one of my favorite people. It’s hard not to have fun with Luke,” Bentley said. “The ACMs were great, we had so much fun doing it. The ACMs have been so good to me.”
A representative for ACM later confirmed the news that Bentley and Bryan would not be returning to center stage at this year’s awards ceremony and that they’d announce the new host or hosts within the coming weeks.
The news should come as no surprise as each of the men have busy schedules in the coming months. Bentley, who is releasing a new album The Mountain, will have a rigorous touring schedule during the summer months as he hits the road with Brothers Osborne and LANCO. In addition to his tour dates, Bryan will also step up as a judge on the ABC reboot of American Idol, which begins in March.
While Bryan and Bentley may not helm the show, fans can still look forward to an exciting evening of awards, fashion and top-notch performances when the 2018 ACM Awards air on April 15 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
