Racecar driver Danica Patrick is going to add awards show co-host to her resume. She will co-host the American Country Awards with country star Trace Adkins. The show will air on Fox in December.
“I can’t wait to see if I have what it takes to keep up with this racing superstar,” Adkins said in statement. Adkins is also slated to perform “Carol of the Drum” (“Little Drummer Boy”), a track that will be on his new, Celtic-inspired Christmas album, The King’s Gift. That hits stores on Oct. 29.
Patrick said she is excited to co-host with Adkins, adding, “I have no doubt he’ll be able to keep up with me. I’ve become a huge fan of country music since I came to NASCAR and have been fortunate to be in videos with Miranda Lambert and Colt Ford. This is going to be a really cool experience and I’m excited to be a part of it. It’s going to be a great show!”
USA Today notes that Patrick’s bosses, Stewart-Haas Racing, sent out tweets joking about the height difference between Adkins (6’6”) and Patrick (5’1”).
Of note: @DanicaPatrick stands 5'1", while @TraceAdkins checks in at 6'6" -- Ought to be some entertaining photos from the @ACAINSIDER....
— Stewart-Haas Racing (@StewartHaasRcng) September 17, 2013
That said, @DanicaPatrick took pics w 6'9" Karl Malone @TXMotorSpeedway & 7'1" @SHAQ @DISupdates, so there's that experience to go off of.
— Stewart-Haas Racing (@StewartHaasRcng) September 17, 2013
Patrick also joked with fellow racecar drivers about the gig.
@JennaFryer @DanicaPatrick haha it's it's country music!! It's the best. #countrygirl
— Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (@StenhouseJr) September 17, 2013
Adkis has co-hosted all three previous American Country Awards shows and is used to co-hosting with someone not really known for a presence in the country music world. Broadway star and actress Kristen Chenoweth co-hosted last year’s ceremony.
The fourth annual American Country Awards will air live from Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas on Fox Tuesday, Dec. 10 at 8 p.m.
image: NBC