In his new book, A Personal Stand: Observations and Opinions from a Freethinking Roughneck, singer Trace Adkins takes on everything from the war on terror to illegal immigration. So how would he fix a few other pressing issues? Britney Spears's Career "If she came to me, I'd tell her, 'You can't sing!' "
Air Travel " Airlines book more flights than the airports can actually handle. If the rest of us handled business like that, we'd get fired."
The Obesity Epidemic "We should start a fat tax. When people go for groceries, there'd be a guy with a scale and he'd say, 'We're adding a 15 percent surtax because you're 75 lbs. overweight.' "
High Gas Prices " We keep driving, so they sit in their boardrooms and go, 'Well hell they don't seem to mind.' "
NICOLE NASHVILLE
"There's just something about being in Nashville that's very comfortable"
—KIDMAN, ON LIFE IN TENNESSEE WITH HUSBAND KEITH URBAN
COUNTRY COUSINS
THESE LOOK-ALIKES PROVE THAT NASHVILLE AND HOLLYWOOD HAVE MORE IN COMMON THAN YOU THINK
TRENT TOMLINSON / STEVEN VAN ZANDT
SHANNON BROWN / JENNIFER ANISTON
JENNIFER NETTLES / KATE HUDSON
MIRANDA LAMBERT / HAYDEN PANETTIERE
QUESTIONS FOR JOSH TURNER
The big-voiced baritone has a new album, Everything Is Fine, and opens up about Opry honors and fatherhood (son Hampton just turned 1!).
1.
YOUR WIFE, JENNIFER, IS IN YOUR BAND, SO IS HAMPTON A ROADIE?
"We've got our own bus and he's got a crib in the back—bolted to the floor of course!"
2.
WHAT'S HE LEARN-ED FROM ROAD LIFE?
"We play a lot of fairs, so he's learned animal sounds. The first one he did was a pig. He scrunches up his nose and starts snorting."
3.
LEAST FAVORITE DAD DUTY?
"Feeding him. My mama describes it as a sporting event."
4.
HOW DID IT FEEL TO JOIN THE OPRY?
"Man, there's so much history there. I never dreamed I'd be inducted this soon. It's like a second home to me."
5.
YOUR IDEAL DAY OFF?
"Going home to South Carolina to fish, eat barbecue and be out in the woods."
FAVORITE TINGS
FROM ALTOIDS TO ZING ZANG, HERE'S WHAT THESE STARS CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT
TRISHA YEARWOOD
KITCHENAID STAND MIXER
"It's great for mixing cookie batter or whipping up mashed potatoes," says Yearwood. "I bought the pink one because a portion of the proceeds goes to breast cancer research." $349.99; cookforthecure.com
CINNAMON ALTOIDS
"I never leave the house without them." $1.79; altoids.com
BONNE BELL LIP LITES
"The cappuccino flavor smells and tastes good. It's almost like going to Starbucks" $3.50; in drugstores
MOTOROLA i580
She likes to use the walkie-talkie feature for quick calls to Garth. $279.99; sprint.com
OLAY ACTIVE HYDRATING BEAUTY FLUID
A fave of her mom's too, it "makes my skin happy," say Yearwood. $6.99; olay.com for stores
KENNY CHESNEY
ST. JOHN HOOK BRACELET
Chesney's signature piece. Wearing the hook outward indicates you're single. $400; caravangallery.com
RED BULL SUGARFREE
Kenny keeps a stash on his bus for pepping up pre-show. $1.99; in grocery stores
ZING ZANG BLOODY MARY MIX
The singer gets it shipped by the case. $4.75; in liquor stores or zingzang.com
JENNIFER NETTLES
JEANINE PAYER "PALMER" CUFF
This gift from bandmate Kristian Bush comes etched with a quote by poet Rainer Maria Rilke. $400; jeaninepayer.com
VOLUSPA 10 VOTIVE GIFT SET
The scented candles "are spicy and woods, which I like," says Nettles, who lights them backstage, $48; beautyexclusive.com
FAGE TOTAL 0% GREEK YOGURT
It's so creamy, snacking "fells like you're being bad, but you're not," says Nettles. $1.99; in grocery stores
GARTH RETURNS!
BUT IS HE THE SAME MAN WHO WALKED AWAY SEVEN YEARS AGO? A COMPARISON:
[This article contains a table. Please see hardcopy of magazine or PDF.]
1991
Garth on the rise
2007
Garth on the comeback
GONE COUNTRY!
THESE HOLLYWOOD STARS ARE TRYING THEIR HAND AT HONKY-TONK
JESSICA SIMPSON
"My next album is probably going to be with Willie Nelson," the Texas-born singer said in August's Harper's Bazaar.
JOHN AMOS
After singing a Randy Newman classic for a Hurricane Katrina charity album, the Men in Trees star landed a record deal.
JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE
"I'm from Tennessee," he told CMT in May. "Don't be shocked when I put out a country album. "
FIRST JOBS QUIZ
MATCH THE COUNTRY STARS TO THE WORK THEY DID BEFORE HITTING IT BIG
WAL-MART DAIRY MANAGER
RECEPTIONIST
PEPSI DELIVERY PERSON
CHEERLEADER
DAIRY QUEEN SERVER
JENNIFER HANSON
JASON ALDEAN
FAITH HILL
MARTINA MCBRIDE
CRAIG MORGAN
THIS YEAR'S HIGHEST-GROSSING TOURS
KENNY CHESNEY
$71 MILLION
1,135,679 TICKETS SOLD
FAITH HILL & TIM McGRAW
$52 MILLION
578,130 TICKETS SOLD
RASCAL FLATTS
$34 MILLION
588,009 TICKETS SOLD
ANSWERS: Jennifer Hanson—Rams cheerleader, Jason Aldean—Pepsi delivery person, Faith Hill—music label receptionist, Martina McBride—Dairy Queen server, Craig Morgan—Wal-Mart dairy department manager
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