CMA Awards hosts Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood talk 'Star Wars'

For the fifth straight year, Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood will co-host the CMA Awards airing live from Nashville on Nov. 1 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. The duo phoned EW this afternoon for a quick chat on what we can expect.

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Brad, earlier today, we posted an interview with your wife, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, who begins a recurring role on ABC’s Nashville tonight. I understand she’ll be presenting at the CMAs with Connie Britton and Hayden Panettiere. Will we see you and Carrie do a pre-taped bit with the cast of Nashville?

BRAD PAISLEY: That would be cool, but uh, no, we aren’t doing that.

CARRIE UNDERWOOD: Way to bring it up now.

PAISLEY: Yeah, great idea. It’s too late to do it. Next year.

What can you tease about what you have cooked up for us?

PAISLEY: Well, we got some rip-roaring comedy we’re hopin’ to unleash on ya. We’ll see. We have been workin’ really hard on this script. I think we’re takin’ some risks, which is fun. It’s very physical this year, which is all I’m sayin’. It oughta be funny.

UNDERWOOD: We’re gonna get physical.

PAISLEY: Not like Olivia Newton-John, but kinda physical.

UNDERWOOD: We’re gonna be doing some things that I don’t think people would really expect us to do. We want to keep people on their toes, not just do your standard monologue. We feel like we’ve done so well in the past and felt so confident in our jobs as hosts, we just really want to take it to that next level.

And how many costume changes this year, Carrie?

UNDERWOOD: I’m not sure exactly how many. I’m actually headed to the arena in a few minutes to check everything out and see what I have time for. But a lot. [Laughs]

And Brad? How many for you? I don’t want to leave you out of this conversation.

PAISLEY: I am planning on several costume changes. But I’m just gonna wear the various things that I debated on wearing for Halloween. I’m gonna be a Star Wars character at first.

UNDERWOOD: Then Captain America.

PAISLEY: Then Captain America for a little while.

UNDERWOOD: He even comes out dressed as me.

PAISLEY: Carrie Underwood at one point. [Underwood laughs.] They’ll be talkin’ about it, I think. It’ll make the People best-dressed thing.

Speaking of Star Wars, on your Virtual Reality Tour, Brad, you’ve been introducing your band with a jam set to a sci-fi-themed cartoon, which you animated yourself, that includes nods to Star Wars and Star Trek. How do you feel about the news that Disney is buying Lucasfilm and planning on more Star Wars movies?

PAISLEY: I’m more excited than anybody. I cannot wait. I’m friends with a lot of people at Disney. It’s a great place for that.

UNDERWOOD: You should be in it.

PAISLEY: I should be in it.

UNDERWOOD: Let’s put the word out now.

PAISLEY: I’m gonna make a phone call as soon as we’re done.

EW.com is happy to help. Do you have a pitch?

PAISLEY: Yes. I believe, actually, that the Force is strong with me. It’s very strong with me. I want to be in, like, the next Cantina Band. Even if it means wearing a prosthetic alien face, I don’t care. I’ll know it’s me.

UNDERWOOD: I see you more as a Wookie.

PAISLEY: You do?

UNDERWOOD: I do. Or an Ewok.

PAISLEY: Either way. I’ll do anything. I don’t care. Yeah, I’m an Ewok. Whatever you want me to be.

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