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Carrie Underwood, Brad Paisley to host 2016 CMA Awards

"So excited I am returning to host the 50th annual CMA Awards," Underwood wrote.

By Annie Martin
Carrie Underwood (R) and Brad Paisley at the CMA Awards on November 4, 2015. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI
1 of 5 | Carrie Underwood (R) and Brad Paisley at the CMA Awards on November 4, 2015. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo

NASHVILLE, May 25 (UPI) -- Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley will host the 2016 Country Music Association Awards.

ABC confirmed the 33-year-old American Idol winner and 43-year-old singer will return for the award show's 50th anniversary ceremony in a press release Wednesday after Underwood tweeted the news the day previous.

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The 2016 CMA Awards will take place Nov. 2 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville and air at 8 p.m. ET. Underwood, who told fans she is "so excited" to serve as host, has co-hosted the award show with Paisley since 2008.

"I really enjoy hosting the CMA Awards with Brad," she said in a statement. "Of course we have fun up there, but we take the responsibility of honoring the best artists in the format and shining a positive light on country music very seriously."

"Carrie and I have certainly hit our stride in terms of balancing humor and a genuine respect for the nominees and winners," Paisley added. "This year the stakes are higher than ever as we honor the legacy and traditions of the past 50 years."

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The CMA Awards were established in 1967 to honor achievements in the country music industry. Underwood has won five CMA Awards, including Female Vocalist of the Year, while Paisley has won 14, including Entertainer of the Year.

Underwood came to fame after winning American Idol Season 4 and released her fifth studio album, Storyteller, in October. The singer kicked off her accompanying tour in January and will bring the venture to a close Dec. 17 in Brisbane, Australia.

Paisley, meanwhile, released his 10th studio album, Moonshine in the Trunk, in 2014. The record debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and includes the singles "River Bank," "Perfect Storm" and "Country Nation."

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