CMA Awards Head Writer Jon Macks Talks Writing for Hosts Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning

By Deborah Evans Price

Jon Macks has carved an impressive career writing the witty, often hilarious banter that makes celebrities shine — from politicians to late-night talk show hosts to the icons who have commanded the podium at the Academy Awards. This year, the longtime Country Music fan brings his deft touch to “The 56th Annual CMA Awards” as head writer. 

The Philadelphia native has served as writer and producer of more than 200 live television shows, among them 25 Academy Award ceremonies (including nine times as head writer), as well as the Emmys, Golden Globes and Tony Awards. He was the top political writer for Jay Leno’s 22-year run on “The Tonight Show” and has written for Billy Crystal, Michael Douglas, Steve Martin, Helen Mirren, Chris Rock, Martin Short and Queen Latifah, among many others. 

Though this is his first time working on the CMA Awards, Macks isn’t new to the genre, having worked with Executive Producer Robert Deaton previously on “CMA Country Christmas.” “Generally, after [‘CMA Country Christmas’] I write other things and am busy in November around the CMAs,” Macks says, “but this year when Robert asked, ‘What are you doing in November?’ I said, ‘I don’t have anything until Dec. 6.’ He said, ‘Done!’ So I’m really excited.” 

“Jon is a legend,” says Deaton. “He’s written the book on standup comedy. Literally. I don’t know many people that have a book about the history of standup comedy. The diversity of what’s he’s done in his career is amazing.”

Macks is particularly happy about working again with co-hosts Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning. “I know Luke from ‘CMA Country Christmas’ and I worked with Peyton when he and [his brother] Cooper hosted ‘Capital One College Bowl,’” Macks says. “They are a perfect combination. Peyton loves Country Music. Luke loves football and they get along great together. You’re going to see a real camaraderie and rapport. These shows are about music and honoring artists, but when you have two great hosts, it carries through and keeps the energy going. I’m thrilled to be working with both of them. It’s a real honor.” 

“I think that’s what [Jon] brings this year,” Deaton continues, “a real understanding of how to write for Peyton and how to write for Luke.”  

The road Macks traveled to the CMA Awards isn’t what most would expect from a comedy writer. “I’m a lawyer,” he shares with a wry smile. “I ran political campaigns for many years in Washington, D.C. One of my clients was Paul Simon, the senator from Illinois, and he was doing a speech at the Gridiron Club dinner. This was back in the day when Republicans and Democrats would each have a speaker who would, in essence, roast their own party and roast and toast each other.” 

The jokes Macks wrote for the event were a big hit and a friend suggested he try his hand at comedy writing. Not long after, he learned that Leno would accept jokes from freelancers, so he sent jokes to NBC. Just a week later, Macks got a contract offering $50 for each joke they used. While continuing to work political campaigns, write speeches, and do debate prep, he also submitted jokes. When Leno took over “The Tonight Show,” he invited Macks to Los Angeles to try writing for the show for 13 weeks.  

“I never went back,” he says of leaving the campaign trail and moving to Hollywood. “I was one of two writers with Jay for all 22 years of his show, all 4,610 shows. I wrote about 100 jokes a day for him and if he used four, it was a great night. If he used three, it was a good night. If he used one, I was depressed, and if he used none I’d go home and say, ‘I’ve lost it. I can’t write anymore.’ He was reading 1,500 jokes a day to pick the 25 that he was going to use. Even if you have a great day, you’ve got to start again.” 

Over the course of his career, Macks has been nominated for eight Emmy Awards and twice won the Writers Guild Award. He’s authored several bestselling books, including “Monologue: What Makes America Laugh Before Bed” and “Heaven Talks Back: An Uncommon Conversation.” 

Macks enjoys the collaborative process and is hard at work on the upcoming CMA Awards show. “Since working with ‘CMA Country Christmas,’ I’m in the zone already, but generally, you really start the heavy lifting probably five or six weeks out,” Macks says of preparing for the CMA Awards. “My job is to make sure that I keep true to Robert’s vision of the show, true to the CMAs and the brand it’s been over the years. I make sure the hosts are serviced for what they need, and the presenters are happy. That’s basically the job of the writer, but my main job is to make sure that the producer has what he wants for the vision of the show and the hosts have what they want to really make this thing sing. It doesn’t work unless the hosts are involved from minute one, and knowing both of them, I know that they will be involved every step of the way.  They are prepared professionals.” 

And so is their head writer.