On May 15, PEOPLE Country will publish its latest newsstand–only issue dedicated to the Country music scene and Country lifestyle.  This edition, the second of five special Country issues to be published by PEOPLE in 2009, names “Country’s Hottest Guys” and explains why these 12 sexy men know how to turn up the heat and make female fans swoon.  Country’s Hottest Guys, according to PEOPLE Country are, in alphabetical order:

Trace Adkins – The Roughneck                    Jake Owen – The Catch

Dierks Bentley – The Free Spirit                   Brad Paisley – The Charmer                         

Luke Bryan – The Smooth Talker                  Blake Shelton – The Joker

Kenny Chesney – The Heartbreaker            Josh Turner – The Family Man

Jack Ingram – The Marathon Man                 Keith Urban – The Heartthrob

Tim McGraw – The Great Romantic              Chuck Wicks – The Leading Man

Trace Adkins shares with PEOPLE Country his take on why the ladies love country boys:  “It gets down to the caveman basics – women know a guy raised in the country can provide for her, feed her and shelter her no matter what the circumstances.  That boy from the country is going to take care of you.”

Paisley Makes The List... and The Issue

 Brad Paisley credits his sense of humor with helping him snag his wife of six years, actress Kimberly Williams-Paisley.  “It’s probably 98 percent of why she’s with me,” he says.  “Humor is the great equalizer, just like music.  If you can make a woman laugh, you’ll get to talk to her longer.  For me it was a vital thing, especially in my awkward high school years when I was 98 lbs.  When I learned how to be funny, it was life-changing.” 

PEOPLE Country asked Keith Urban’s female colleagues to sum up his sex appeal.  Sarah Buxton says that “Keith walks that fine line between bad boy, risk taker and family man.”  Heidi Newfield adds, “He’s got an edgy, organic, rock-and-roll vibe to him.  He walks onstage and my eye is drawn to him.  He’s just hot!”  Single at 27, Jake Owen is still looking for the one.  “When I find the right girl…the woman that I marry, I’m going to make her the happiest person ever.  She deserves to be,” says Owen.                                                                                                                                                                    

Tune-in to PEOPLE Country on CMT for a 30-minute CMT special that will bring the pages of PEOPLE Country to life, with exclusive, behind-the-scenes footage of photo shoots and interviews (Brad Paisley, Kellie Pickler, Paula Deen and Chuck Wicks).  The special premieres Friday, May 15 at 1:30 p.m. ET/PT, and will encore on Saturday, May 16 at 1:30 p.m. ET/PT and Sunday, May 17 at 11:00 a.m. ET/PT.   

I wonder if Brad Paisley finds himself saying "it doesn’t get better than this" often.  It seems to be a theme that is threaded through his latest CD
 "5th Gear" (in stores now).

Paisley also waxes about cars, “There were so many songs on this record that had to do with some vehicle in your life and sort of travels and cars. You know, you’re talking about a car in the first song with ‘All I Wanted Was a Car.’ It’s guitar driven and it really just made the statement I wanted to make, and so I was looking for car titles. I realize this album—whether it’s ‘Online’ or ‘Some Mistakes’ or ‘Letter to Me’ or ‘It Did’—they all talk about it. A car plays a role at some point in all of those songs.”

Paisley has a knack for infusing a wonderful sense of humor into his traditional sound and it’s made for a must listen cd.  My only complaint is that Paisley’s pop culture references (In Better Than This — "if Emeril Lagasse showed up with Kilbasa"?) can be a distraction at first listen.  Then again it’s refreshing to have music with a depth that requires multiple listens.

Overall the future of mainstream country music is bright.   Brad steps up to superstar status as a songwriter penning almost everything on the disk (all the real gems anyway).   I actually got misty eyed listening to "Letter To Me."  Simple, clever, and Brad is the sole songwriter.    On lineCD is predicataKielbasable pop country fare like "Celebrity" was and watch out for what I hear is an equally great video.  I can assume it’ll be his next video.

I also respect that Pailsey continues his tradition of including a Gospel song ("When We All Get To Heaven") and and instrumental ("Throttleneck").  Plus – just like his previous records – he has his Opry buddies "The Kung Pao Buckaroos" in for some comic relief (nice "stunt casting" with Vince Gill!)

My Grade: Solid A

Don’t Miss: The brilliantly written "Letter To Me", and very end of "OnlinepredictablePaisley" where Brad salutes band geeks everywhere with a fun marching band version of the soon to be hit (I’m sure radio will fade out early!).

I Can Live Without: the stuff Paisley didn’t write.

Hear Paisley’s 5th Gear Free HERE