Dierks Bentley and Luke Bryan have been pre-gaming for Sunday night’s ACM Awards. They joke that there’s not a lot of preparation, though, that goes into doing the monologue of a big awards show.

“What he’s told me was that there is actually no monologue. Backstage, you just have like six drinks,” says Dierks. “Hopefully, we’re gonna find one in a little bit, but for now Luke’s just said, ‘Yeah go out there, have some drinks and have fun.So, hopefully he’s not messing with me.”

You can catch the action for yourselves when the 51st Academy of Country Music Awards will air live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas Sunday (April 3rd) at 8pm ET/delayed PT on CBS.

Dierks Bentley is prepping for his first run at being a host of the ACM Awards this year, along with his buddy, Luke Bryan, who’s been at it for a few years now. He says traditionally his favorite part of attending an awards show is the performances.

“My favorite thing about awards shows really are the performances. I mean, it’s awesome to be nominated. It’s just a huge honor. Getting nominated for any award show IS a win,” says Dierks. “It’s just a fun night for me and my wife and I get a chance to go in there and hang out and see old friends and cut up a little bit, but then sit down and watch the performances, you know? Just see who’s doing what, what the collaborations are, the production ideas, the singing, the musicianship, and I feel like the ACMS, every year they just get better and better, where it’s just great performances.”

As a co-host this year, Dierks says he’ll enjoy getting a behind-the-scenes look at all of the cool performances. “I’m really looking forward, obviously, to being a host on that show and getting kind of a behind-the-scenes look at some of the rehearsals and what goes into the performances.”

In addition to his role of co-host, Dierks is also nominated for Male Vocalist and Video of the Year (for “Riser”).

The 51st Academy of Country Music Awards will air live from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas April 3rd at 8pm ET/PT delayed on CBS.

• Dierks’ new album Black, which features his Top 10 single “Somewhere on a Beach,” will be released May 27th.

Dierks Bentley is getting ready to release his eighth studio album, Black, May 27th. It’ll be available for digital pre-order this Friday (April 1st).

Black is personal – after all, it’s named after his wife Cassidy’s maiden name, but it’s really a record about the human heart — not any particular human. It explores breakups, hookups, mess-ups and everything in-between, shining a light on the things that happen after the sun goes down.

“It’s a relationship album that covers the ups and downs of the journey and ends with some self-realization and evolvement,” says Dierks. “The song ‘Black’ helps set all of that in motion at the top of the album by guiding you into the darkness and the shadows of the night. The same guy who sings ‘Somewhere On A Beach’ winds up growing and having enough perspective to sing something introspective like ‘Different for Girls.’ By the last song, he’s taking a look back on love and life.”

Produced by Ross Copperman and executive producer Arturo Buenahora Jr., the slow-smoked grit of Bentley’s voice keeps the album rooted in country music, while it also appeals to audiences far beyond the boundaries with fresh sonic textures that flourish on the edge of arena rock.

Black will also feature some of today’s hottest female voices, including Maren Morris, Elle King, Natalie Hemby, Hillary Lindsey and Jessi Alexander. Never before has a Bentley album contained so much input from the opposite sex.

“Having a female perspective on this record really made the album more than just music,” added Bentley. “It makes it a conversation between a guy and a girl. Sometimes it’s harmonious and sometimes it’s two people clashing, but it’s always there.”

BLACK TRACK LIST:

1. Black
2. Pick Up
3. I’ll Be The Moon (feat. Maren Morris)
4. What The Hell Did I Say
5. Somewhere On A Beach
6. Freedom
7. Why Do I Feel
8. Roses And A Time Machine
9. All The Way to Me
10. Different for Girls (feat. Elle King)
11. Mardi Gras (feat. Trombone Shorty)
12. Light It Up
13. Can’t Be Replaced

Dierks’ latest single, “Somewhere on a Beach,” has climbed into the Top 10 on the Billboard country chart.

This week, Dierks  preps for his first-ever co-hosting duties at the 51st Annual ACM Awards on Sunday (April 3rd) at 8pm ET/7pm CT on CBS, where he is also nominated for “Male Vocalist of The Year” and “Video of The Year.” The forthcoming album’s Top 10 lead single “Somewhere On A Beach” continues to breeze up the radio charts as it serves as the fastest moving single of Bentley’s career. The “format superstar” (Entertainment Weekly) will set out on his 2016 SOMEWHERE ON A BEACH TOUR with Randy Houser, Cam and Tucker Beathard beginning May 12 in Holmdel, NJ, following a string of dates overseas this month. For more information on new music, upcoming appearances and tour dates, visit www.dierks.com.

Luke Bryan and Dierks Bentley are co-hosting this year’s ACM Awards. The pair have been friends a long time, they’re on the same record label (Capitol Records Nashville) and they’re both up for a handful of awards. They took a few minutes to ask questions and reveal a few tidbits of info about each other.

The 51st Annual Academy of Country Music Awards will be broadcast live from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas April 3rd at 8pm ET/delayed PT on CBS.

Dierks Bentley jumped at the chance to co-host this year’s ACM Awards with his pal, Luke Bryan. It seems the Phoenix native is always up for a challenge, such as when he was learning how to pilot his own plane or taking chances with his music or seizing new opportunities to stretch himself, like hosting a major awards show.

“I’m constantly picking things up just to see if I can do them, and I view music that way in some ways. I try to challenge myself to make better records,” says Dierks. “The idea of hosting the ACMs – that’s pretty crazy. Yeah, let’s give it a shot and see what happens. So, it should be a lot of fun. I feel pretty comfortable with Luke, obviously, being around him, and I’ve watched those guys the last couple of years, and I think I can get up there and take a shot at it.”

The 51st Academy of Country Music Awards will air live from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas April 3rd at 8pm ET/PT delayed on CBS.

Dierks is making his way up the charts with “Somewhere on a Beach,” his fastest rising single to-date.

On this date (March 15th) in 2005, Dierks Bentley scored his first platinum record with his self-titled debut album, which featured his No. 1 single “What Was I Thinkin’,” in addition to “My Last Name” and “How Am I Doin’.”

On April 7th, 2005, a party was held in his honor at the now defunct Hair of the Dog saloon, chosen in part in homage to his constant canine companion, Jake.

Photo (l to r): Capitol Nashville’s Mike Dungan, Today host Katie Couric, Dierks Bentley and Capitol’s Fletcher Foster
Photo Credit: Marilu White

Go behind-the-scenes with Luke Bryan and Dierks Bentley as they get acclimated to the Vegas air in the Neon Sign Graveyard.

Superstars Luke Bryan and Dierks Bentley will co-host the 51st ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS®, Country Music’s Party of the Year®, returning to Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena and broadcast LIVE April 3rd at 8pm ET/delayed PT on CBS. The show will mark reigning ACM and CMA Entertainer of the Year Luke Bryan’s fourth consecutive turn hosting the Awards, and Bentley’s first time hosting a LIVE televised event.

Dierks Bentley is among the headliners for the first night of this year’s CMA Music Festival. He’ll be joined by Jason Aldean, Miranda Lambert and Rascal Flatts Thursday, June 9th at Nashville’s Nissan Stadium.

Keith Urban was recently named CMC International Artist of the Year at the CMC Music Awards in Australia, his fourth win in this category, and also CMC International Video of the Year, his fifth win in this category, for “Raise ‘Em Up,” featuring Eric Church.

Lady Antebellum’s Charles Kelley put on a different hat to produce Chuck Wicks on a version of Justin Bieber’s hit, “Love Yourself.” The song is available now on iTunes.

Mickey Guyton will perform during the fifth annual Rising Women on the Row in Nashville April 8th.

Sam Hunt is part of the Carnival Cruise Line’s fall 2016 Carnival LIVE performances, which also includes comedians Chris Tucker and Jim Gaffigan. The “Make You Miss Me” singer will perform on the Carnival Fantasy and Carnival Splendor in Cozumel, Mexico October 19th and 20th.

Many country stars were starstruck backstage at the Kris Kristofferson tribute show in Nashville on Wednesday night (March 16th). Actor Kevin Spacey (House of Cards, The Usual Suspects, etc.) was in attendance. Check out some of the photos below.

(Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Essential Broadcast Media)