The two will anchor the Nov. 10 ceremony in Nashville, and Paisley said of Underwood’s July union with NHL player Mike Fisher: “We have to bring it up.”

“It was big news in country music, so if it is that, it is fair game, as well as Nashville or current events,” he said in an interview with Underwood on Thursday. “It’s worth talking about anything like that that people will relate to.”

The two joked about Paisley’s wedding gift to Underwood, a bowl, which Paisley said his wife picked out.

“Is it something you wanted or it’s in the pile of re-gift items?” asked Paisley.

“You’re going to get it back three Christmases from now,” said Underwood.

“I can’t wait to get that back,” said Paisley.

They also talked about Underwood’s wardrobe. She is known to switch up her outfits multiple times throughout the show, changing more than 10 times last year.

“I can’t change anymore than I did last year,” said Underwood. “I don’t think that’s a physical possibility, so I’m not going to try to outdo the costumes.”

So maybe it’s Paisley’s turn to change his outfits this year?

“I think that would be awesome,” said Underwood. “I’m going to stay in the same thing all night. I’m going to show up in my pajamas, and you’re going to do your thing.”

As for hosting together, the two have a natural timing and chemistry together that comes across on stage and in-person.

“I do feel like we do have our own roles that we fall into and compliment each other,” said Underwood.

“At this point three years later, we have each other pretty well figured out, so I think it will go really smooth,” said Paisley.

The CMA Awards air live on ABC from Bridgestone Arena.

It’s good to tour with Carrie Underwood, too. Morgan spent the bulk of 2010 opening up for her.

“It was awesome,” he said. “It was a great opportunity to play to a lot of fans who might have known my music but didn’t know my face.”

Underwood invited him out to sing a duet or two; they usually covered Alan Jackson. They got along so well he’s asked her to sing on his next CD, due out in 2011.

“She said yeah. She wants to hear the song and make sure it’s something she feels comfortable with,” Morgan said. “I’m just finishing it where I can get it to her.”

The country superstars emceed last year’s event, providing comic relief and plenty of costume changes – for Underwood.

“It’s all about country music. We all live here,” Underwood said, in a statement, about returning to the event. “This is our community.”

Paisley, too, pointed toward the community aspect of the event. “You’re looking at a roomful of people who love each other,” he said in a statement, “and any new viewer will be pleasantly surprised at what they relate to on the Awards.”

Over the years, Paisley has collected 13 CMAs, while Underwood has won five. Last year, Taylor Swift swept the awards show, earning four trophies, including the night’s biggest honor: entertainer of the year.

The show will be telecast on ABC.

LOVE FOR UNDERWOOD

Last year, Travis released “I Told You So: The Ultimate Hits of Randy Travis,” a retrospective that looks back on a remarkable career that wouldn’t have blossomed if he had taken “no” for an answer. It includes two new songs — “You Ain’t Right” and “Love’s Alive and Well” — as well as a reworking with Carrie Underwood of his 1987 country chart-topper “I Told You So.” Before they collaborated, Underwood recorded a version of the song for her 2007 “Carnival Ride” album.

Calling Underwood “wonderful,” Travis notes that the starlet asked for permission to record “I Told You So,” even though it wasn’t required.

“Yeah, and anything else I might have in the catalog!” he says he told the hitmaker. “She did that vocal performance, and the first time we heard that was over the phone. And I was amazed even just hearing it on the phone. My comment then was, ‘You know, it was far more suited for her as a vocalist than it was for me.’ She’s remarkable.”

And This

Underwood, too, is “gonna be in the studio with us,” he says. “She wants to do something old, and I don’t even know what we’re going to do yet.”

The album should be out in 2011 at the end of the first quarter or the beginning of the second quarter, Travis says.