Dec 16, 2006

NASHVILLE, Tenn . -- (December 14, 2006) – The results are in, and Country Weekly ’s 12th Annual Readers’ Poll issue hits newsstands tomorrow, Friday, December 15^th. Nearly 27,000 readers responded to the magazine’s online survey, naming Toby Keith Man of the Year, and Carrie Underwood Woman of the Year. Although this is Country Weekly ’s 12^th annual poll, this is the magazine’s first-ever “Man/Woman of the Year” vote. Another reader favorite was Rascal Flatts, who were tapped for Group of the Year, Favorite Song and Favorite Album honors. The poll results appear in the January 1, 2007 issue of Country Weekly , on newsstands Friday, December 15^th.

“We were very pleased with this year’s reader response. The voting for our first ‘Country’s Man of the Year’ was very interesting,” said Country Weekly Editor in Chief Bill Gubbins. “Kenny Chesney led most of the way, but at the last moment Toby surged ahead and won—but narrowly.”

Highlights of the poll include:

2006 Man of the Year:              Toby Keith
2006 Woman of the Year:       Carrie Underwood
2006 Group of the Year:          Rascal Flatts
Favorite Song:                           “What Hurts the Most,” Rascal Flatts
Favorite Album:                     Me and My Gang , Rascal Flatts
Favorite Duo:                             Brooks & Dunn
Favorite Live Act:                       Kenny Chesney
Sexiest Video:                           “Come a Little Closer,” Dierks Bentley
Superstar of the Future:          Jason Aldean
Star Who Should
Run For President:                  Toby Keith
Star You’d Like to
Have a Beer With:                    Kenny Chesney

  
About Country Weekly
Country Weekly is the world’s #1 selling country entertainment magazine with over 3.5 million readers. Now in its 13^th year, Country Weekly is the authority on the lives, lifestyles, families, homes, favorite foods, latest fashions, and—of course—the latest music of country’s biggest stars.

Country Weekly is published by American Media, Inc. one of the largest media companies in the U.S. and the leading publisher of celebrity journalism, health and fitness and Spanish language magazines. These include Star magazine, The National Enquirer (the nation’s largest selling weekly for 80 years), Shape, Men’s Fitness, Muscle & Fitness, Flex, Fit Pregnancy, and Natural Health magazines, the largest newsstand Latino magazine, ،Mira!; and the best-selling country music magazine, Country Weekly . In addition to print properties, AMI owns Distribution Services, Inc., the country’s #1 in-store magazine merchandising company.