Are Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning ready for their co-hosting gig at CMA Awards?

CMA Awards co-hosts Peyton Manning and Luke Bryan held a press conference Tuesday ahead of their hosting gig where they talked about everything from what they are looking forward to about hosting, to whether or not they hang out outside of their CMA duties.

Here's our five favorite moments from the sneak peek into how they prepare for Country Music's Biggest Night. Are they ready? Read on.

1. They are using last year as a guide for this year

"I think this year, having a year behind us, I feel like we've been a little more chilled out, pragmatic and calmed down," Bryan told reporters. "With us, we are comfortable now. I know how he rolls, we know a little bit better about our comedic timing."

Manning added that he was honored to be asked to co-host for a second year, since he is a bit of an 'outsider' in the country music world.

"I just hope Luke and I get off to a better start this year," Manning said eliciting a laugh from the crowd. "We had all these rehearsals last year and the we walked out I thought we were supposed to stand in this spot and Luke thought it was this spot. I think we split it down the middle."

How to stream CMA Awards: Subscribe to watch on Hulu the next day.

Country Music Association CEO Sarah Trahern warned the "dynamic duo" as she called them, that this year will pose some new challenges.

"I have to warn you, we have a new set this year with lots of new places for you to stand, so you've gotta get those stars (on the stage) right when you do your walkthrough," she said.

2. They hope to keep the jabs to themselves

"I think Luke and I both certainly have thick skin and the more the joke can be on us, we are for it," Manning said. "I think both of us believe in self-deprecating humor and don't take ourselves too seriously. This is supposed to be a celebration. We're not here to make anybody mad or disappoint anybody so I feel like we are getting the majority of the punchlines on us."

He added that he and Bryan have the ability to "audible" out of any jokes that make them uncomfortable.

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"Peyton has got things he's probably tired of talking about and I do, too," Bryan added. "If we keep turning back the clock and talking about stuff we've been talking about our whole careers, that's not getting us anywhere, so if we can always be a little more creative and not do the standard jokes that you would expect us to do to one another, we want to toe that line and not overdo it."

Bryan added that at the end of the day, he and Manning want people watching to have fun and smile about what they are up there doing.

3. Peyton is a huge country music fan

Manning recounted one of his favorite things about his hosting gig last year was getting to hear the live performances.

"I just got to go watch a couple of these artists perform in rehearsals and I love today and tomorrow getting to hear these artists perform. I love to kinda sneak out of the things Luke and I are supposed to be doing and go hear Chris Stapleton sing."

Although he wasn't exposed to much country music growing up in New Orleans, Manning said, "When you spend four years in college in Knoxville, country music is right in front of you and I just jumped in and embraced it."

Out of that came a friendship with Kenny Chesney, who played at Manning's wedding.

4. Manning helped Jordan Davis' music career

In recounting several country musicians he's become friends with, he told a funny story about Jordan Davis, who he met four years ago.

"When we first met, he told me we had met before and I said 'I don't recall that.' He said 'I was a high school quarterback from Shreveport and I came down to your high school football camp in 2004.' I said 'obviously we coached you right into country music.'

5. Spoiler alert: Bryan spilled the beans

After saying he was looking forward to seeing the "surprise moments and performances," including Morgan Wallen, Post Malone and HARDY, Trahern warned Bryan that not all the details of that performance had been announced yet.

Instead of heeding her warning, Bryan kept talking and revealed a CMA secret.

"Did I just spill the beans on that?"

We won't reveal the surprise here, but the answer is yes, he did spill the beans. To see the surprise announcement tune in to the 57th Annual CMA Awards at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 8 on ABC.

Melonee Hurt covers music and music business at The Tennessean, part of the USA TODAY NETWORK — Tennessee. Reach Melonee at mhurt@tennessean.com or on X @HurtMelonee.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: CMA Awards 2023 host: Luke Bryan, Peyton Manning prep for award show