Carrie Underwood is getting set to co-host the CMA Awards for the ninth time in 2016, and to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the annual awards, her costume changes this year will be particularly special.

The awards this year feature the theme of Forever Country, and Underwood will underscore that by wearing costumes inspired by the 1960s, '70s, '80s, '90s and '00s throughout the night.

"There are some looks throughout our night that are very singular artist inspired and it should [be] evident," Underwood tells People. "But going back, there are just so many incredible, legendary ladies of country music. I didn’t wanna really completely pigeonhole myself to one artist. It’s about paying tribute as well."

Underwood will have a total of 11 costume changes over the course of the evening, including her red carpet dress, her performance dress and an after party dress. She says the '80s outfit has been the most difficult to pull together.

"The '80s are a little tougher and we haven’t completely locked down my look for that,” she admits. "I think we need some more, because it seemed like the '80s were a little more menswear inspired but in a less flattering way. Right now, we’re looking at something blue and it reminds me of my sister’s prom dress. I need to get some matching satin shoes to match."

The singer -- who is nominated for Entertainer of the Year this year -- doesn't actually run through all of the costume changes in dress rehearsal.

"When we get the running order of the show, we’re like, 'Okay, these are complicated so we're gonna need more time,' so we try to just plan where things that might need a little more time get a little more time," she says. "And there are easy changes, like, 'Oh, we have five minutes,' that's a lifetime in TV-quick-change world. We make the time count."

Underwood and Brad Paisley will co-host the 2016 CMA Awards on Nov. 2, airing live from Nashville on ABC.

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