Luke Bryan has detailed a surprise performance set to take place at this year’s CMA Awards.

During a press conference with his CMA Awards co-host Peyton Manning, Luke was asked which moment he was most excited to see during the 2023 ceremony.

The host responded that he was looking forward to Morgan Wallen and Hardy taking the stage with Post Malone, saying, “For them to be together onstage is fun stuff.”

Although the collaboration has been announced, the CMA Awards has not revealed what the three musicians would perform.

Luke revealed, “They’re doing the Joe Diffie tribute,” before adding, “Did I just spill the beans on that? See how I work? See how that works, Peyton?”

Joe died from COVID-19 complications in March 2020 at the age of 61. One of his final releases was 2019’s Redneck Tendencies, a duet with Trace Adkins which appeared on the Hardy-curated mixtape Hixtape Vol 1.

Also at the press conference, the co-hosts agreed they were planning some banter for awards night.

“Luke and I both certainly have thick skin, and the more the joke can be on us, we are for it,” Peyton explained. “We both believe in self-deprecating humor, and as you can see right here in front of you, we don’t take ourselves too seriously. But this is supposed to be a celebration, and we’re not here to make anybody mad or disappoint anybody, so I feel like Luke and I are getting the majority of the punchlines on us tomorrow night.”

The 2023 CMA Awards have been scheduled for 8 November, airing live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on ABC.

– Cover Media