ACM Tempo (Spring 2014)
Bluke 2
The boys are back for a fun-filled sequel as hosts of the 49th ACM Awards
SCENE: Slow-motion shot of Blake Shelton and Luke Bryan, onstage, sharply dressed in jackets and crisp white shirts.
VOICE OVER! “Last year, they made you laugh, they made you cry.....this year, they will make history!”
BLAKE: “We're just hosting, right? Not rescuing kittens or performing heart transplants?”
LUKE: “I just signed up for hosting, that’s all.”
After last year’s triumphant turn as hosts of the Academy of Country Music Awards, it's no wonder fans and country insiders alike might actually think Blake and Luke could rescue kittens and perform heart transplants. Their good-natured sarcasm, striking looks and musical prowess gave fans at home a great reason to watch and solidified the sum of their star power now and forevermore known as “Bluke.” On a Nashville soundstage Feb. 20th shooting promos for this year’s ACM A wards, the two friends fell right back into their old rhythm, suiting up for their second hosting turn at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on April 6th.
“I think the biggest thing that I learned last year is I can’t depend on Luke as much as I would like to be able to say that I can,” Blake shared during a quick interview on the set. ‘‘I intended for him to lean on me a little bit being that it was his first year, but that favor is really not one that’s returned often when I need his help.”
“I'm not a crutch,” Luke deadpanned back.
The year that has passed since the 2013 ACMs has been good to both Shelton and Bryan. Blake continues in his role as the most charming host on NBC's The Voice, and his latest album, Based on a True Story, helped earn him five ACM Award nominations—including Album, Male Vocalist, Song, Vocal Event and Entertainer of the Year, His growing fan base outside the country genre helped him sell out upcoming shows on his “Ten Times Crazier Tour” at both New York's Madison Square Garden and the Hollywood Bowl.
“I’m in L.A. to film The Voice, and I drive by the Hollywood Bowl on my way to the set. It is such an iconic venue in LA and I have wanted to perform there for a long time," said Blake. “Then there is Madison Square Garden. Hands down, there is not one artist who doesn't dream about playing Madison Square Garden. It's mind blowing to think I'm performing at Madison Square Garden and the Hollywood Bowl, let alone selling them out.”
Luke's career has continued to blast to another level since fans voted him ACM Entertainer of the Year at the 2013 show. His fourth album, Crash My Party, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Country Albums chart, going on to sell more than a million copies. Luke is up for ACM Album, Male Vocalist and Entertainer of the Year, and his 2014 headlining tour will for the first time wrap in some stadium shows, including Pittsburgh's Heniz Field, Chicago's Soldier Field and Philly's Lincoln Financial Field.
“There’s nothing that feels better on this earth than to know you’re loved by fans,” Bryan said during a press conference to announce the stadium dates.
Back at the ACM Awards promo shoot, Blake and Luke were joined on set by Miranda Lambert and Tim McGraw, who are this year's top nominees at the ACM Awards. Miranda and Tim got in a few comedic jabs of their own, thanks to some great scripts from CBS. And, Miranda -who is nominated for 7 ACM Awards- admitted it wasn’t a bad gig.
“Hanging out with three hot guys all day and being the only girl doesn’t suck obviously!” Miranda joked in a dressing room between takes. “But Tim McGraw—we were all at one point standing around with him like vying for his attention. I think he’s kind of been a hero in all of our lives—Luke, Blake and myself. So I think it was cool for all of us to get to hang out with him today. But he's poised and classy. We're all kind of hillbillies compared to him. So he’s probably glad to get the hell out of here!”
McGraw, who has won 15 ACM Awards and is nominated for another 7 this year, knows a thing or two about holding an audience. He’s expecting good things from “Bluke 2.”
“I’ve known those guys for a long time,” McGraw said. “To be able to be out there on something like this and doing something off the cuff, it’s a lot of fun.”
ACM Awards producers Rac Clark and Barry Adelman are expecting great chemistry and a lot of ad libbing from the duo this year. They are working on scripts that will turn them loose.... to an extent.
“We like to do the most current comedy possible, so we are adding to it day by day as new things happen,” Adelman said. “Blake and Luke also have a couple of wild and crazy ideas of their own, and if we can pull them off they will be water cooler moments.”
Clark jokingly added, “We want to give them enough rope, but not enough to hang themselves.”
Until the magic happens on April 6th, Blake and Luke are just enjoying the ride—and each other’s company.
“We’ve been talking fish. We catch up on each other's hunting and fishing,” Luke said. “You know, the important stuff.”