WATCH: Carrie Underwood and Jason Aldean Reveal Details Of First-Ever Live Duet Performance
Jason Aldean and Carrie Underwood are gearing up to perform their chart-topping duet, “If I Didn’t Love You,” for the…
Carrie Underwood, Jason Aldean
Jason Aldean and Carrie Underwood are gearing up to perform their chart-topping duet, “If I Didn’t Love You,” for the first-time ever at the 55th Annual CMA Awards on Wednesday, November 10, and it’s safe to say fans are looking forward to their show-stopping performance.
Just days before the coveted awards show, the country music superstars teased their performance while at CMA rehearsals in Nashville, Tenn. at Bridgestone Arena.
“We are performing ‘If I Didn’t Love You,’ which is a song we have currently on the radio. This is the first time we have performed it in front of people that aren’t like his band,” Underwood said. “So, it’s really exciting!”
“We did fake it about a hundred times for the video, but that’s about it, so far,” Aldean added. “So, to get to do it live for the first time at the CMAs… So excited.”
During the nearly 4-minute interview, Aldean recalled how the song came about and shared how he landed on Underwood as his duet partner.
“Carrie’s somebody I wanted to work with for a long time, and it’s just hard when you want to do that, but you don’t have the song,” he admitted. “I feel like you’re kind of chasing the song a lot of times and so, some of the guys in my band and a new artist that I’m working with, John Morgan, went in and wanted to try to write a duet and came out with this song.”
Aldean shared how the song came about just as he was wrapping up his forthcoming 10th studio album, and revealed that “If I Didn’t Love You” was turned in just in the nick of time.
“I think from the time they wrote it to the time we had Carrie on it was maybe two weeks. So, it happened pretty quick, and it was just one of those songs when I heard it for the first time that she was the first person that I thought of,” he said.
While Aldean was unsure if Underwood was available to join him, it happened to work out perfectly.
“The stars have to align,” Underwood acknowledged.
“Yeah, it all has to work out perfectly and luckily, it did, this time, and we got a big ol’ hit out of it,” Aldean added.
Aside from performing, the pair shared that they are looking forward to seeing their longtime friend and fellow country superstar take the stage as the host of the 2021 CMA Awards.
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“I kind of look forward to just seeing who’s here to present, and I’m looking forward to [seeing] Luke host. Not that you didn’t do a good job when you did it,” Aldean said with a laugh.
“I know, I mean, he’s got some big shoes to fill that’s for sure,” Underwood joked, before Aldean added, “he really does.”
Aldean went on to share his excitement of seeing Bryan host the show.
“Luke is my dude, so I’m excited to watch him,” Aldean excitedly added. “I think he’s great at that kind of stuff.”
Underwood and Aldean are also looking forward to catching up with old friends and meeting new ones.
“You kind of have people from all different genres, whether that be music or actors or whatever,” Aldean said. “And you kind of end up meeting some really cool people like that. So I think for me that’s always a thing I look forward to.”
“I’m definitely looking forward to performing,” Underwood shared. “And then I feel like this is kind of like just a big night out for so many of us. Hopefully fans will be able to come and enjoy themselves and people can watch on TV and cheer for their favorite artists. It’s just a fun night to get all dressed up and see everybody. Everybody’s in one place at one time, and it just always make for a great evening.”
The 55th Annual CMA Awards will also feature performances from Jason Aldean and Carrie Underwood, Jimmie Allen, Gabby Barrett, Dierks Bentley feat. BRELAND and HARDY, Brothers Osborne, Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Luke Combs, Dan + Shay, Mickey Guyton featuring Brittney Spencer and Madeline Edwards, Jennifer Hudson, Old Dominion, Carly Pearce and Ashley McBryde, Thomas Rhett, Blake Shelton, Chris Stapleton, Keith Urban, Chris Young and Kane Brown, and Zac Brown Band.
Additionally, the star-studded awards ceremony will feature dozens of presenters, including Trace Adkins, Ingrid Andress, Kelsea Ballerini, Deana Carter, Lauren Daigle, Russell Dickerson, Faith Fennidy, Florida Georgia Line, Freddie Freeman, Amy Grant, Dulé Hill, Alan Jackson, Elle King, Lady A, Zachary Levi, Scotty McCreery, Hayley Orrantia, Katy Perry, Lionel Richie, Darius Rucker, Susan Sarandon, Saycon Sengbloh, Kurt Warner, Lainey Wilson, and Trisha Yearwood.
Hosted by Luke Bryan, the star-studded show is set to broadcast live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday, Nov. 10 beginning at 8/7c on ABC.
Lauren Jo Black is a longtime country music journalist, editor, host, and media personality whose work has helped shape the conversation around country music for nearly two decades. As the current Editor-in-Chief of Country Now, she has become one of the genre’s most respected voices, interviewing hundreds of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and countless others. Over the course of her career, Black’s written work and interviews have reached billions of country music fans worldwide. A 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida, Black began her career by founding Country Music Is Love, one of country music’s earliest independent digital publications, which she later sold to a major record label in 2015 before it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. She then served as the publication’s Editor-in-Chief for more than two years. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, and she previously served as the Country Music Expert for Answers.com. Widely recognized for her expertise, Black has appeared as a featured guest on The Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and Scripps News Morning Rush, providing insight on country music’s biggest moments. She has also hosted Country Now Live, a concert series featuring performances from artists including Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Chris Young, and more. The series has welcomed thousands of fans in person while reaching millions more online. In addition, she hosted Connect With Country Now, a weekly interview series featuring conversations with rising country stars. Throughout her career, Black has earned a reputation for discovering and championing artists long before they become household names. She has covered Luke Bryan since the early days of his career, beginning when he was writing songs for other artists, including Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “Good Directions,” before stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, “All My Friends Say” and eventually becoming one of biggest names in music. She also gave Megan Moroney her first opportunity to walk a major red carpet as Country Now’s official guest correspondent at the 2022 CMA Awards. An interview she conducted in 2018 for Forbes.com with Luke Combs that inspired his multi-week No. 1 hit, “Doin’ This.” She has also hosted stages at CMA Fest, moderated an industry panel at Country Radio Seminar, and helped lead important conversations about the evolving landscape of country music media. Beyond journalism, Black has also used her platform to support charitable causes and highlight organizations making an impact. Through Country Now Live, she has helped raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while also advocating for animal rescue through Country Now’s Pupdate series, spotlighting organizations including MuttNation Foundation, Wags & Walks, and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. Black has been recognized as one of Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. She is a longtime member of both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). After nearly 20 years covering country music, Lauren Jo Black has spent her career telling the stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that have shaped the genre. Her first-ever book, Country Music Forever: An A-to-Z Celebration of Icons, Songs and Stories, brings that same passion and firsthand knowledge to the page, celebrating not only the legendary artists and timeless songs that have become the soundtrack to generations of fans, but also the places, traditions, and cultural moments that have made country music one of the most beloved genres around the world.
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