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Hunter Hayes, Nelly, Lady Antebellum Promise "Party Time" at CMT Music Awards

"Everybody's Just in a Happy, Fun, Summertime Mood," Says Lady A's Charles Kelley

The buzz is in the air for Wednesday night's (June 5) CMT Music Awards. And it's not just coming from the fans who are milling around on Nashville's Lower Broadway killing time until the broadcast. We caught up with some of the show's performers and asked how they're feeling about hitting the stage for the show airing live from Nashville's Bridgestone Arena at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CMT and CMT.com.

Never one to miss an opportunity to get pun-y with the title of his latest single (not to mention the upcoming CMT-sponsored Let's Be Crazy tour, Hunter Hayes promised, "It's gonna get crazy ... if you will," after his rehearsal on Tuesday.

Rapper Nelly, who is getting ready to take the stage to perform on the remix version of Florida Georgia Line's "Cruise," said, "I've heard about this situation here. I've never been in this situation here. So, I'm looking for a great show and a great party."

Jason Aldean will be co-hosting the show with actress Kristen Bell. Though he's no stranger to bringing the goods at big awards shows, Aldean was playing it cool after his rehearsal. "It could go, like, really well, or it could be a complete disaster," he said with a smile.

There was no such rope-a-dope action going on when we caught up with Darius Rucker, who will be offering up the first live televised performance of "Wagon Wheel" with Lady Antebellum.

"It's gonna be fun," he said. "People are going to be really happy and surprised."

In keeping with the CMT Music Awards' freewheeling spirit, Lady A members Dave Haywood and Charles Kelley tried to put Aldean's butterflies to rest.

"A lot of drinking?" Kelley said when asked what fans can expect. "Yeah, Jason Aldean's making drinks backstage."

As for what makes the CMT Music Awards different from other shows, Kelley said it's because the artists are all in a really loose, fun mood, and the city is filled with diehard country fans in town for this week's CMA Music Festival. "Everybody's just in a happy, fun, summertime mood. Party time!" he said.

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