What to Expect From 'Country’s Night to Rock'

Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley, Luke Bryan and more.

ByABC News
August 3, 2016, 10:29 AM

— -- Brett Eldredge will host his first "CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock" special with Thomas Rhett and the “Wanna Be That Song” hitmaker admitted he experienced a bit of a learning curve in the role.

“We're used to getting onstage and getting people to party and have a good time,” Eldredge said. “He and I have to actually remember questions to ask people…we're both learning to interview other people. It's pretty fun but it's a different way to look at things.He and I are so comfortable with each other. We just kinda make everything fun and try to laugh as much as possible!”

He said he caught on pretty quickly for the most part. The special was taped earlier in the summer over four days.

“[We] interviewed Dierks [Bentley] … and we literally were just with [him] offstage. We all went boxing together, like hanging out. So it's like, 'This is real easy! We just sit here and talk like we would normally talk,'" Eldredge said.

But it sounds like country fans can definitely expect some antics.

“We dressed up in crazy outfits to try to mess with him,” Eldredge recalled, “and of course you can't stump Dierks, because he'll try to take it to another level. So we're just having fun!”

Jimi Westbrook, who hosted the special last year with his band Little Big Town, spoke about Rhett and Eldredge taking over this summer's music festival.

“They both really have great personalities and are great entertainers so it's gonna be fun," Westbrook said of the show. "This night is always so amazing, and such a big group of hardcore country music fans and it's unlike any other experience we have all year long.”

Expect performances from the likes of Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton and more tonight. Even Steven Tyler and Pharrell Williams will join in on the fun.

The fun starts at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.