Kid Rock ready to party as CMT Awards host

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Kid Rock won't be too far out of his comfort zone as host of the Country Music Television Awards. It will be kind of like throwing a party.

"They're just kind of loose and fun, and they're geared that way — to have fun," he said of Wednesday's event, to be aired live on the network from Nashville's Bridgestone Arena.

"You go to the Grammys, and it's very serious. You're just like, 'Man, everyone lighten up a little bit. It's fun. It's music. Let's celebrate,'" he said. "And that's just kind of the atmosphere at the CMT Awards, just really laid back, really fun, got some over-the-top performances, a little riff raff here and there. It just creates for a good atmosphere, good time."

Kid Rock wouldn't reveal too much of what's going to happen during the show, but he did offer up a possible scenario.

"There will probably be (a moment) where I propose to Kellie Pickler," he said. "She'll immediately dump me as I'm flirting with Carrie Underwood. I'll probably be smacked by Miranda Lambert for the whole fiasco. Then me and Jamey Johnson will go get drunk."

When informed that Lambert is now engaged to fellow country artist Blake Shelton, Kid replied: "I'm not messing with Blake or Miranda. I'm actually more scared of Miranda."

Back in April, he announced on his website that he would be hosting the CMT Awards by writing, "All I can promise is I will be awesome."

Asked how he would live up to that promise, he smirked and said: "This is where the cocky me comes out ... How could I not be awesome?"

Has close country ties
Even though he is known to many for his rock music, over the years he has made Nashville a second home through collaborations with artists including the Zac Brown Band, Willie Nelson and Gretchen Wilson.

Unlike many artists from other genres who occasionally try to crossover into country music, fans and artists seem to have embraced Kid Rock. His 2008 song "All Summer Long" was a top 5 hit on the country singles chart, and the video won a CMT Award last year. He also taped an episode of "CMT Crossroads" with Hank Williams Jr. in 2001 and had a country hit in 2002 with the song "Picture," sung with Sheryl Crow.

"I'd like to say it's because I'm skinny. I'm cute. I'm fun at parties, but I don't think that's the real reason," he said of his appeal to country listeners. "I think it boils down to the music, maybe the honesty if I had to take a guess."

In addition to his hosting duties, Kid Rock also will be performing on the show. Others in the lineup include Tim McGraw, Brad Paisley, the Zac Brown Band, Toby Keith, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Carrie Underwood, Jamey Johnson, LeAnn Rimes, Keith Urban and John Mayer.

Being pals with some of the top names in country, including some of Wednesday's performers, is why Kid Rock won't consider his hosting duties as a work night.

"The country community is kind of small, and I've been fortunate to make a lot of great friends in it," he said. "I'm just looking forward to seeing everybody and definitely looking forward to some sort of after-party. I guess hosting the show is a good excuse to throw a good after-party, right?"