Ciara 'excited' ahead of Billboard Music Awards co-host duties

Ciara is excited to be the co-host of the Billboard Music Awards, but confesses she's getting nervous.

The singer, who's co-hosting the ceremony with rapper/actor Ludacris on Sunday (22May16), said she's been taking it one day at a time in the run up to the big event.

"I don't know how nervous I am," the 30-year-old told People.com. "I'm excited. I've been taking it one day at a time. When I start to think about the actual day, my brain starts to run really fast and then my heart goes really fast. I just go one day at a time and when I get to Sunday, my plan is to be relaxed."

The show, being held at the newly opened T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, will be packed to the rafters with stars, and is set to feature performances from Britney Spears, Pink, Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton, and a special tribute to Prince by Madonna.

Despite her jitters, Ciara explains that she always gets nervous before taking to the stage, and revealed her very first Billboard Music Awards appearance back in 2005 was no different.

"I performed and I did a medley of songs. I did '1,2 Step' and I think I did 'Oh.' I just remember being so nervous. I remember I flew up on some rigs and I had to run down this long T-runway. It was really crazy; crazy, cool, exciting. I was nervous. It was a really awesome experience and an unforgettable one," she said.

And, as co-host, Ciara knows that it's up to her and fellow presenter Ludacris to keep the show going. "You're really setting the tone of the show. It's definitely different because you're threading everything together and constantly in the mix of the show," she said. "Normally you do a performance and then you leave. There's a lot more work to do."