Lainey Wilson, Luke Bryan, and Peyton Manning Reveal Why the 2024 CMA Awards Will Be a 'Family Reunion' (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Country music’s biggest night is set to feature a whole lot of laughs thanks to the hosting trio ofLuke Bryan,Peyton ManningandLainey Wilson.With only a week left until the 2024CMA Awardstake place live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, PEOPLE can exclusively premiere a featurette video ofveteran hostsBryan and Manning bonding with first-time host Wilson.The video begins with the group sharing a few laughs as they pose for photos, and Bryan explains, “This is our first day together, so we’re starting to kind of feel the energy that we’re going to be able to bring to the stage the night of the CMA Awards.“Peyton Manning, Lainey Wilson and Luke Bryan for the CMA Awards.ABC/YoutubeThe PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!Manning then jokes that Wilson – who made history at last year’s ceremony when she became theonly artist to ever lead nominations in her first two times on the ballot—  “spent as much time on stage” as him and Bryan, making her new hosting duties rightfully “fitting.““I feel like these guys, they don’t take themselves too serious, and that’s what I want. I want us just to get up there and have fun and give each other a hard time,” says Wilson, whotook home the top prize of entertainer of the year in 2023.After Manning adds that it is a “thrill” to be part of the event, being a “huge country music fan,” Bryan reveals his favorite part of participating as a host.Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning speak onstage at the CMA Awards in November 2023.Christopher Polk/Variety via Getty Images"You’re sitting on the front row as an artist in the awards and hopefully winning, and then to be up there on stage, kind of being the master of ceremony, it’s an amazing hill to climb,” he says.Wilson adds that the event has become a “country music family reunion.““A lot of these people that are nominated and winning, they’re people who have helped me along the way. It’s just a big time to celebrate each other,” she says.Lainey Wilson.Disney/Brian Bowen SmithThe 58th Annual CMA AwardsnomineesincludeMorgan Wallen, who leads the pack with seven nods,Chris StapletonandCody Johnson, who both earned five nominations, and Wilson andPost Malone, who each scored four nominations.In addition to hosting, Wilson and Bryan are also part of anextensive list of performersthat includesDierks Bentley, Sierra Hull, Bronwyn Keith-Hynes,Ashley McBryde, Post Malone,Shaboozey,Chris Stapleton,Teddy Swims,Thomas Rhett,and Molly Tuttle.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.The 58th Annual CMA Awards airs on ABC on Wednesday, Nov. 20, at 8 p.m. ET.

Country music’s biggest night is set to feature a whole lot of laughs thanks to the hosting trio ofLuke Bryan,Peyton ManningandLainey Wilson.

With only a week left until the 2024CMA Awardstake place live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, PEOPLE can exclusively premiere a featurette video ofveteran hostsBryan and Manning bonding with first-time host Wilson.

The video begins with the group sharing a few laughs as they pose for photos, and Bryan explains, “This is our first day together, so we’re starting to kind of feel the energy that we’re going to be able to bring to the stage the night of the CMA Awards.”

Peyton Manning, Lainey Wilson and Luke Bryan for the CMA Awards.ABC/Youtube

ABC/Youtube

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!

Manning then jokes that Wilson – who made history at last year’s ceremony when she became theonly artist to ever lead nominations in her first two times on the ballot—  “spent as much time on stage” as him and Bryan, making her new hosting duties rightfully “fitting.”

“I feel like these guys, they don’t take themselves too serious, and that’s what I want. I want us just to get up there and have fun and give each other a hard time,” says Wilson, whotook home the top prize of entertainer of the year in 2023.

After Manning adds that it is a “thrill” to be part of the event, being a “huge country music fan,” Bryan reveals his favorite part of participating as a host.

Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning speak onstage at the CMA Awards in November 2023.Christopher Polk/Variety via Getty Images

Christopher Polk/Variety via Getty Images

“You’re sitting on the front row as an artist in the awards and hopefully winning, and then to be up there on stage, kind of being the master of ceremony, it’s an amazing hill to climb,” he says.

Wilson adds that the event has become a “country music family reunion.”

“A lot of these people that are nominated and winning, they’re people who have helped me along the way. It’s just a big time to celebrate each other,” she says.

Lainey Wilson.Disney/Brian Bowen Smith

Disney/Brian Bowen Smith

The 58th Annual CMA AwardsnomineesincludeMorgan Wallen, who leads the pack with seven nods,Chris StapletonandCody Johnson, who both earned five nominations, and Wilson andPost Malone, who each scored four nominations.

In addition to hosting, Wilson and Bryan are also part of anextensive list of performersthat includesDierks Bentley, Sierra Hull, Bronwyn Keith-Hynes,Ashley McBryde, Post Malone,Shaboozey,Chris Stapleton,Teddy Swims,Thomas Rhett,and Molly Tuttle.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

The 58th Annual CMA Awards airs on ABC on Wednesday, Nov. 20, at 8 p.m. ET.

source: people.com