Darius Rucker co-hosted last night’s CMA Awards for the first time ever, and says being up there on that stage with Reba McEntire (who’s hosted and co-hosted five times) was “one of the best experiences of his life.”

“It was a dream come true,” said Darius backstage at the CMA Awards. “It was something I never ever thought they would ask me to do. Reba made it so easy and she was so great to me, and this was one of the best experiences of my life.”

Darius performed his latest hit single, “Beers and Sunshine,” on the show, as well as a duet with Reba on “In The Ghetto,” which paid tribute to the late and great Mac Davis, who recently passed away.