Little Big Town will have a few surprises up their sleeves for the fans during this year’s CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock TV special airing Monday (August 12th). In addition to introducing performances at LP Field and hosting the entire show, the band will talk to several of their artist friends, including Lady Antebellum and the Zac Brown Band. The foursome, who are making their way up the country charts with “Your Side of the Bed,” also looked toward last year’s hosts in preparation for their hosting gig. “Last year, Luke [Bryan] and Kimberly [Perry], they had so much personality, and we just wanted to be relaxed and natural and a little silly if we wanted to be silly and have a good time,” says LBT’s Karen Fairchild. “It’s about connecting with the fans and keeping the energy high when were out there, but how can you not with 60,000 fans.”

The CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock, which will also feature performances by Luke, Keith Urban, Taylor Swift, Blake Shelton, Jason Aldean, Miranda Lambert and more, airs Monday (August 12th) at 8pm ET on ABC.

LBT (hosting CMA Fest) 1 OC: …60,000 fans. :17
“Last year, Luke [Bryan] and Kimberly [Perry], they had so much personality, and we just wanted to be relaxed and natural and a little silly if we wanted to be silly and have a good time. It’s about connecting with the fans and keeping the energy high when were out there, but how can you not with 60,000 fans.”

LBT (hosting CMA Fest) 2 OC: (Phillip) …it’s evolved. 1:00
KAREN: “Lady Antebellum — they are our dear friends, and I don’t know if that was an interview as much as a fun fiesta of goofiness. [laugh] Zac Brown.” JIMI: That was kinda cool because he was telling us about his whole ‘Zamily’ eat and great. It’s an unbelievable undertaking that he has made happen so that was kinda cool.” KAREN: “That’s gonna be a nice insight for the fan because Zac is as passionate about food as he is about writing a great song.” PHILLIP: “We learned a little bit about the whole origins of this festival too. A lot of artist started out as kinda serving a picnic to the fans, and that was the origins as some of the fan club parties.  Learning that about the whole fest and how it kinda started that way it’s a cool thing to think the artist want to give back that spirit has continued on in different ways in how it’s evolved.”