Josh Turner photo by George Holz, courtesy of Essential Broadcast Media.

Country stars spend most of the year on the road, crisscrossing the country and bringing their music to their fans. When the holidays roll around, many of them have an opportunity to slow down and enjoy some time with their family. Josh Turner plans to spend a lot of time outside this holiday season.

“When it comes to Thanksgiving and Christmas, it’s a great time to go hunting, especially in South Carolina,” he said. “That’s when the temperatures are starting to drop and the conditions are getting right, and especially in November, kind of the tail end of the rut, as far as deer season. It’s a good time to get in the deer stand whether you kill anything or not, it’s just a great time to just get away from everything and get away from the noise and the lights and the diesel fumes and just relax and enjoy the peace and quiet.” Continue Reading

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Justin Moore photo courtesy of The Valory Music Co.

Turkey might be the centerpiece of most Thanksgiving dinners but it’s not the dish Justin Moore and his family love the most. While turkey might be on the table, it’s a side dish that brings the Moore family together.

“We always have turkey and dressing,” says Justin. “The dressing, I think is, to us, more important than the turkey. We’ve got a family recipe that’s really, really good.”

According to Justin, his family doesn’t have any out of the ordinary Thanksgiving traditions. There is a tradition he’d like to borrow from one of his friends, however. “The day before (Thanksgiving) he gets a bunch of all his buddies over and they bring their turkeys and everybody fries their turkeys for the next dayand drinks beer,” he said. “So I’d love to start something like that. That’s right up my alley.” Continue Reading

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Darius Rucker photo courtesy of Capitol Nashville.

As Thanksgiving approaches, country stars are sharing what they’re thankful for. The common thread in their answers? Their families.

“The main thing I’m thankful for is my family, there’s no doubt about that,” Darius Rucker said. “Thanksgiving is about family for us. If we’re in Jersey, getting together with family. If we’re in Charleston, getting together with family and just cooking and eating. Sitting around and talking and remembering and being thankful for where we are. We’re all still alive.”

Eric Church has a lot to be thankful for this year, both personally and professionally. “I’m thankful for my family, my son, my wife and great health,” he said. “From a career standpoint, I’m very thankful for the success we’ve had lately. I’m thankful for Chief, I’m thankful for what the fans have done. I’m thankful that we’re starting to have some hit songs on the radio. There’s a lot of stuff to be thankful for in that regard.”

Keith Urban is counting wife Nicole Kidman and their daughters among his most precious blessings. “Thankful that my marriage is not just life-changing, it’s been life-giving for me,” he said. “And from there, we created life, and that’s just beautiful, absolutely beautiful. And the effect that all of that has had in my work, has given life to it too, given it a sense of purpose and really deepened the experience for me.” Continue Reading

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LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 18: Singer Taylor Swift performs onstage during the 40th American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on November 18, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Taylor Swift’s schedule has her hopping all over the map. After performing at the European Music Awards in Frankfurt, Germany where she also picked up three awards, she headed to Los Angeles for the American Music Awards last Sunday night [See photos from the AMAs HERE]. From there, she’s making her way to Tokyo where she’ll spend Thanksgiving.

“It’s gonna be interesting trying to find turkey there,” she said. “That’s kinda how my life goes. Wherever I’m gonna be I’m gonna be. I know that when I am putting out a record all bets are off.  I just put my head down and wake up when they tell me to and I just do what I’m told… like, a lot. That sounds depressing but I kinda think it’s fun.” Continue Reading

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Alan Jackson photo courtesy of ACR/EMI Records Nashville.

Like many of us, country stars will be tucking in to a Thanksgiving dinner come Thursday. And just like us, they have favorite dishes to reach for when they gather around the table. For Alan Jackson, a traditional side dish is his ‘must-have’ menu item.

“My favorite Thanksgiving dish would be the homemade dressing, cornbread-based kind of dressing, that we always have with turkey,” he said. “That recipe is a kind of a combination of my mama, and Denise has taken it and perfected it over the years, so that me and my children really enjoy it.”

Dierks Bentley is all about the traditional Thanksgiving dinner centerpiece  – the turkey. “You gotta have a big turkey,” he said. “Thanksgiving is not possible without a turkey. My dad’s always been the one to cook and carve it, but in years here recently, I’ve been taking over those duties. Big responsibility.” Continue Reading

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Lady Antebellum photo courtesy of Capitol Nashville.

Thanksgiving is a time for creating memories as well as sharing them. For Lady Antebellum’s Charles Kelley, his favorite Turkey Day memory involved a lot of food.

“One of my most memorable Thanksgiving memories was probably the first year that me and my two brothers decided to start our annual eating contest where we ate throughout the whole day,” he said. “We started that morning and weighed ourselves and at the very end of the night, we weighed ourselves out and all three of us equally gained five pounds. I wish we had a more accurate scale to decide the winner, but we all tied. Five pounds!” Continue Reading

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Trace Adkins photo courtesy of Show Dog-Universal Music.

Trace Adkins will be spending his Thanksgiving in New York City. He’s scheduled to perform during the 86^th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade which airs live on NBC on Thanksgiving Day, November 22, at 9a|8c. Other performers include Carly Rae Jepsen, Flo Rida, The Wanted, Karmin, Neon Trees, Cody Simpson, Jimmy Fallon & The Roots, Jennette McCurdy, Chris Isaak and Don McLean.

“The 86th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will again make history as it debuts three impressive giant balloons, six over-the-top floats, an amazing array of talent and the most remarkable high school, college and professional marching bands in the nation,” Amy Kule, executive producer of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, said. Continue Reading

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David Nail photo courtesy of UMG Nashville.

This time of year, people like to count their blessings — and country stars are no different. We asked several of your favorite artists what they’re thankful for this holiday season and the answers ranged from family, music and health to…chain saws!

With a new album on shelves just in time for the holidays, David Nail is giving thanks for his career. “This year, I am most thankful for the opportunity to keep doing what I believe I was put here on this earth to do – which is, travel around the country and sing country music and perform and hopefully entertain you all,” he told GAC.

For Jimmy Wayne, he’s thankful for his new companion. “This Thanksgiving holiday, I’m thankful for many things – obviously, my health and having a home,” he said. “But something that just happened to me over the year was, I got a dog. I’m truly thankful for her. She has really brought a lot of light into my life.”

It’s been a chaotic year for American Idol winner Scotty McCreery. He hasn’t had much time to spend with his family between competing on the show and traveling the country promoting his debut album, so what he’s most looking forward to is family time.

“This year for Thanksgiving, I’m extra thankful for the family I have and how they’ve supported me throughout this journey,” Scotty said. “It’s been a trying time in the family, because we haven’t been able to be together. It’s the first time it’s ever been like that. Since February, it’s just been me and mom out here on the road and Dad and Ashley back home. And Ashley’s in college. It’s great to have a family that’s been there to support me and still stand together as a core group.” Continue Reading

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Miranda Lambert photo by Randee St. Nicholas, courtesy of Sony Music Nashville.

What do Miranda Lambert, LeAnn Rimes and Kellie Pickler have in common this Thanksgiving? They are all thankful for their husbands! All three ladies were married within the last year and are celebrating their first Thanksgivings as husband and wife.

“This year at Thanksgiving, I’m thankful for my husband, because it’s the first Thanksgiving I’ve ever had a husband,” Miranda told GAC. So how are Miranda and Blake Shelton celebrating the holiday? “We call Thanksgiving week ‘our week’ because we’re always home,” Miranda said. “His dad comes and they hunt all week, and I cook for him all week. My parents come and we sort of ‘hole up’ in Oklahoma and spend really good quality time together and with our families. I wear overalls and no makeup – and that’s my favorite part!”

LeAnn told GAC she’s thankful for not just her husband, actor Eddie Cibrian, but two other special boys in her life, Eddie’s sons. “I am most thankful for – especially this year – my wonderful marriage and my great family,” she said. “The marriage has brought all of our families closer together. I have two new wonderful bonus boys that I love to death. So I could not be happier and I’m thankful for all my family and friends.” Continue Reading

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Brett Eldredge photo courtesy of WMG Nashville.

We love hearing singer-songwriters onstage, but sometimes it’s even better to see them perform in a more casual setting. Brett Eldredge has a web series called “Couch Sessions,” in which he does acoustic performances of songs he’s written for himself and also for other artists, plus the occasional cover song.

5 Things You Didn’t Know About Brett Eldredge >>

This week, we present Brett’s soulful rendition of the Ray Charles classic, “Georgia On My Mind” — plus a special Thanksgiving message from Brett. Watch it now & tell us what you think! Continue Reading

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