Country music is filled with some beautiful people, and even though People Magazine recognized Channing Tatum as tops in their People’s Sexiest Man Alive for 2012 list, Blake Shelton made the list, too. He’ll be featured in the issue that comes out today. Earlier this year, wife Miranda Lambert made People’s 2012 World’s Most Beautiful Women list. Another country artist is now in the running for Sexiest Man Alive for 2013, since Chris Young is featured as the Sexiest Man of the Week in the current issue of People Magazine. He says he doesn’t see himself as sexy, but admits the ladies go wild when he performs: “Someone threw neon underwear on stage last week, which I just laughed. I’ve gotten bras before. You know, shoot a thong on stage is one thing. If they start going through the process of like, ‘not only underwear, I’m gonna make sure it ties in with the album.’ That’s a lot of thought. That’s a lot of premeditation to throwing underwear on stage.” He’s currently touring behind his album, entitled “Neon.”

Fan reaction to the announcement of Keith Urban’s first headlining tour since 2011 has been very gratifying for Keith, and he’s stoked to hit the road and do what he does best – play live for a crowd, sharing the energy and the love. According to Keith, “I really love, love what I do. It’s really important; it’s just that lessons in gratitude that’s a daily thing. And I think if you really love it, it’s something people pick up on.”

Taylor Swift was on X Factor’s live results show last night, performing “State of Grace” off of her new album, Red. If you looked carefully, you saw a new addition to her band: “We actually have four extra backup singers now, who are amazing! They’re these girls who I love so much, and they’re so good at singing and they move all pretty – they’re adorable. They’ve performed with us on the VMA’s and the TV performances we’ve done.” Taylor was also part of MTV’s Restore the Shore campaign special last night. Growing up in Pennsylvania meant that her family often went to the Jersey shore for summer vacation. She, along with many other country stars, are pitching in to help the victims of Hurricane Sandy.
Jason Aldean was on Jimmy Kimmel Live last night, and, remembering the days of dive bars and half-empty halls, he’s grateful for where his career has gone: “To be able to stand there with the guys that have seen it go from that, to what it is now – I think really those guys are probably the only ones that really understand – that really get it. Family a lot of times doesn’t see the everyday stuff, they just kind of all of sudden notice you’re getting bigger.” 
Lee Brice is in love with his next single, “I Drive Your Truck,” a song about a man who loses his brother, presumably in the Middle East. “It really changed my life when I heard it. I couldn’t believe I got my hands on it – I didn’t write this song. I’m still floored by it to this stay – so we’re really pumped about that one. It is really amazing - the songwriter was straight up touched by God that day.” 
Kristian Bush of Sugarland bought his bandmate Jennifer Nettles what he describes as the perfect baby gift. Dubbed “the Miracle Blanket,” it is supposed to help new babies sleep deeper and longer, allowing their parents to get more rest, too. Jennifer is expecting her first child sometime this month. 
Martina McBride and her family will be spending Thanksgiving in New York City. She’ll be performing during The Thanksgiving Day Parade on CBS Thanksgiving day.

Did you catch Carrie Underwood on VH1’s Behind the Music last night? Yeah, she didn’t either! “I got to sit down and kind of go back through my life and talk about singing, why I wanted to do that and what I did as a kid to get me here. They talked to my mom and talked to a lot of friends of mine that I grew up with – I probably don’t even know all the people they ended up talking to. So, it will be fun for me to sit down and watch it too.” Tomorrow afternoon VH1 airs “Carrie Underwood: Unplugged” at 4 Eastern, and they’re sure to re-run her Behind the Music episode soon.

When Luke Bryan’s 4th Annual Farm Tour kicks off Wednesday, it’ll have a stellar opening act: The Peach Pickers. Luke will bring out 2/3 of the trio, Rhett Akins and Dallas Davidson, though the third Peach Picker, Ben Hayslip, won’t be joining them. Those three men are the super-songwriting trio responsible for hits like “Gimme That Girl,” “Put A Girl In It,” “All About Tonight,” “All Over Me,” and Luke’s song “I Don’t Want This Night To End.” All are #1 songs, making the Peach Pickers a powerful force in Nashville. About the shows, Luke says, “We just want to have a little fun in the fall, and I think what’s cool about the Farm Tour is when we continue to go to places like Claxton (Georgia) and Valdosta (Georgia). These things are a big event for these towns, and I just love the fact that people can come out and have a big time, listen to some music. And it’s just a fun experience all the way around. I want to continue to do what I can to keep it rockin’.”
The Voice will officially air new episodes in the spring and fall of 2013, but so far, Blake Shelton is only scheduled to be part of the fall series. He’s already scheduled to host the ACM Awards show in the spring, plus there’s this little thing about touring and producing new music that he likes to do, so it’s doubtful he’ll be part of The Voice in the spring. 
Kristian Bush is going back to his roots – he’ll play two shows at Eddie’s Attic in Decatur, Georgia (a suburb of Atlanta) on the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Tickets for the November 25th shows go on sale today. 
Tomorrow, the CW kicks off a new series, “Hart of Dixie,” and Jake Owen’s song, “The One That Got Away,” is featured in the promotional campaign for the show. In the movie world, Steve Azar’s song, “Doin’ It Right,” will be part of the soundtrack for the movie, “Here Comes the Boom,” which stars Kevin James, Salma Hayek and Henry Winkler, and opens next weekend. 
Kip Moore is on the Today Show this morning, and Taylor Swift is on Good Morning America and Nightline. 

Today's Country Tidbits

Oh, to be in Vegas when the town goes country. The free concerts leading up to the ACM Awards on April 3rd are star-studded. April 1st features Sara Evans, Lee Brice, Chris Young, Brett Edlredge, Casey James and Sarah Darling. April 2nd showcases Ronnie Dunn, Easton Corbin, Randy Houser, Steel Magnolia, JaneDear Girls and Thompson Square.

Are you watching Celebrity Apprentice? If you missed last night's episode, the men won the story book challenge, earning $20,000 for team leader Meat Loaf's charity, "Painted Turtle." Wanna know a little behind-the-scenes dirt? Check out John Rich's video blog...

Dierks Bentley's "Miles and Music for Kids" hits Columbus, OH on May 22nd. Part motorcycle ride, part jam session, the event features special guests Joe Nichols, Josh Thompson, Uncle Kracker and Miss Willie Brown. Tickets go on sale this Friday with proceeds benefiting Nationwide Childrens Hospital.

Josh Turner is on the cover of the latest Country Weekly, showing off his three boys and talking about reading aloud to them. "Fox in Socks" anyone?

Happy birthday today to Kristian Bush of Sugarland, who is 41, Jan Browne of Asleep at the Wheel is 57 and to Michael Martin Murphey, who turns 66 today.

The tweet of the day is from Brad Paisley: "Ok, can we just keep the time change like this now? I like it.Enuff of this spring forward fall back crap. Why do we still do this?"