Glee's Jane admits high anxiety over hosting Emmys

Jane Lynch is no longer losing sleep over her Emmy hosting duties.

"I'm OK," the Glee star affirmed with a smile, after rolling out the red carpet in front of the Nokia Theatre in downtown Los Angeles. "I actually slept OK last night for the first time in about a week. I've been having some anxiety issues."

Jane has been hard at work backstage on the show with longtime pals Jill and Faith Soloway from Chicago. The trio previously worked together on Annoyance Theatre's The Real Live Brady Bunch in the 1990s.

The first-time host promised that the Chi-Town ladies would bring 'kind of a Chicago feel' to Sunday's 63rd annual Primetime Emmy Awards.

"Jane is certainly going to be central to our experience," said Academy of Television Arts and Sciences chairman John Shaffner. "I think the host of a programme like this is the best friend who sits on the sofa and tells you great stories as the evening goes on and comments on the work. She's here to keep us engaged in that way as a best friend."

Jane has won an Emmy and a Golden Globe for her performance as Sue Sylvester on Glee and is up for another Emmy this year. She was the first choice of executive producer Mark Burnett to host this year's show.

The Apprentice and Survivor creator said he voted for the 50-year-old actress to lead the show even before clearing it with his alliance.

"My only choice was Jane Lynch," said Burnett. "I had not yet gotten permission to ask her from the Academy or Fox. I ran into Jane on a plane.

"I just went over to her and said, 'I have no permission right now, but if I can get permission, would you host the Emmys for me?'"