Little Big Town will once again host ABC-TV’s special, CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock, for the second year in a row.  While the band felt a little more at ease this year, there was one aspect that made them a little bit nervous. “We had to interview people this time,” says LBT’s Karen Fairchild. “Kimberly [Schlapman] and I were so bad with the Tim McGraw interview. I don’t know how they’re gonna edit that. We just turned into giggly schoolgirls.” Kimberly agrees – “I think they’re gonna overdub us. They’re gonna bring somebody else in.” KAREN: “We just turned into giggly schoolgirls.”

The band says the “hardest part” of hosting this year’s special were the interviews. “There’s something that happens when you say, ‘Okay, interview someone,’” says Jimi Westbrook. “I guess the thing to do is to get to the point where you’re comfortable and it is just like you’re hanging out, but it’s hard to get to that because it just feels so formal, like me with the microphone. I’d put it out there at the wrong time. It was so awkward and awful.”

The show will feature performances by Little Big Town, Luke Bryan, Eric Church with Lzzy Hale, Lady Antebellum, Darius Rucker, Dierks Bentley and Keith Urban, as well as Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, Jason Aldean, Blake Shelton, Miranda Lambert, Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood, Florida Georgia Line, Rascal Flatts, Jake Owen, The Band Perry, Hunter Hayes, Cole Swindell, Zac Brown Band with Richie Sambora (Bon Jovi) and Justin Moore with Vince Neil and Nikki six of Motley Crue.

CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock was filmed during this year’s CMA Music Festival in June, and it’ll air Tuesday (August 5th) at 8pm ET – 11pm ET on ABC.

LBT (CMA Music Fest-hosting 2nd year) OC: (Kimberly) …there is none. :40
KAREN: “We felt a lot better about it this year (PHILLIP AND KIMBERLY: “Yeah.”), ‘cause we knew kind of what to expect. Last year we were so nervous, ‘cause it’s one thing to sing, but it’s another, like we had to interview people this time.” KIMBERLY: “Oh, forget it!” KAREN: “Kimberly and I were so bad with the Tim McGraw interview. I don’t know how they’re gonna edit that.” KIMBERLY: [JIMI LAUGHS] “I don’t know. I think they’re gonna overdub us. They’re gonna bring somebody else in.” KAREN: “We just turned into giggly schoolgirls.” KIMBERLY: “Yeah, we did. We giggled too much.” KAREN: “We measured his body fat. That was the highlight.” JIMI: [laughs] “See, that’s just abusing your power. That’s what that is.” KAREN: “We asked Faith [Hill] first, like what to ask him, and she gave us a little insight. She said he didn’t have any body fat. [laughs]” KIMBERLY: “Yes, she did. She said, ‘There is none.’”

LBT (CMA Music Fest-interviews) OC: …interviewers, I mean. :49
KAREN: “I think the hardest part was interviewing our friends. I don’t know why it was so hard.” JIMI: “There’s something that happens when you say, ‘Okay, interview someone.’ I guess the thing to do is to get to the point where you’re comfortable and it is just like you’re hanging out, but it’s hard to get to that because it just feels so formal. Like me with the microphone, I’d put it out there at the wrong time. It was so awkward and awful.” [laughs]  KAREN: “You interviewed Luke, and then he signed the People’s sexiest man cover for you, didn’t he?” [laughs] JIMI: “He gave it to me. He said, ‘Keep working. You’ll get there.’” [laughs] PHILLIP: “We tried to put in as much humor as possible, just to keep it, because we can’t take ourselves too seriously as hosts or interviews, interviewees or interviewers, I mean.”

Lady A (Fan Fair memory-Hillary) OC: …extra special. :28
“I have memories of it being at the fairgrounds with no air conditioning and actually helping take photos of the fans with my mom. I would help, I would like stand and take everybody’s camera. So, I was a part of it. And I actually, in high school, volunteered at the City of Hope softball game for a couple of years. Born and raised in Nashville, this has been a part of my life my whole life, so now to be a part of it as an artist is extra special.”

Darius Rucker (CMA Music Fest) OC: …part of it. :10
“The way the fans are so close and you get to see the fans all week, and then you come here [to the stadium shows], and you’re on a bill that would cost a million dollars somewhere, and I’m proud to be a part of it.”