Luke Bryan and Dierks Bentley Talk ACMs, Honor Merle Haggard on ‘The Late Show’

Although Luke Bryan and Dierks Bentley may be starting to feel the hosting jitters, they still continue to make their rounds to hype up the ACM Awards by dishing on their on-camera strategies while visiting The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on Wednesday night (March 29).

The country stars got what Bentley called some “couch time” to discuss how they approach their second year hosting the ACM Awards as a duo. Skipping past any sort of comical cues or script hints, Bentley admitted that they sooth any worries they may get with a little liquid courage. Explaining that they use a makeshift bar behind the stage to ease their tension, the “Black” singer also said they hope the audience is a little intoxicated as well.

“If they drink enough, they forget it,” Bentley joked. “Everyone blacks out and it’s a good time.”

Talking about all of the huge names that have taken the CBS stage on that lot, Colbert told the guys that even Elvis made his voice be known while stopping by the set many years ago. Bryan chimed in how The King happens to be his dream collaboration despite how odd it sounds to hope for a duet with a dead man.

“People are like, ‘Living or dead, who would you like to perform with?’ I’m like, ‘That’s kind of weird.’ But I always say Elvis, which is kind of weird too, I guess,” said Bryan.

The country sidekicks then honored one of their musical heroes, Merle Haggard, by performing his song, “Ramblin’ Fever,” for the excited late night crowd.

The 52nd Annual ACM Awards, hosted by Bentley and Bryan, air live on Sunday, April 2, at 8 p.m. ET on CBS.