People magazine named Blake Shelton its Sexiest Man Alive for 2017 on Tuesday, but it took some convincing by his girlfriend Gwen Stefani to get her guy on board.
The country music superstar and coach on NBC鈥檚 鈥淭he Voice鈥� hates being the centre of attention, the magazine said.
鈥淪he goes, 鈥楲isten to me,鈥欌�� recalled the 6-foot-5, Oklahoma-bred Shelton. 鈥溾�榊ou鈥檙e going to regret this for the rest of your life if you don鈥檛 take this gift and just live in the moment.鈥� I鈥檝e been ugly my whole life. If I can be sexy for a year, I鈥檓 taking it!鈥欌��
Bonus for the outspoken Shelton: He can hold the accolade over the head of Adam Levine, his fellow coach on the singing competition and 2013鈥檚 Sexiest Man Alive. Only Shelton used some colorful language to describe that experience between his pal and banter partner on air.
Shelton said he was, in fact, proud and honoured to have been picked, adding: 鈥淚鈥檓 not going to treat this like Hugh Jackman or one of those guys who鈥檚 humble about it. People are going to hate me over this. Because it鈥檚 going to be used in every conversation, whether it鈥檚 at 鈥楾he Voice鈥� or at the feed store in Tishomingo, Oklahoma, or in a conversation with a doctor. Until I have to hand the title, which is what it is to me, over to someone else, this is mine. This is like a certification.鈥�
Shelton鈥檚 latest album, 鈥淭exoma Shore,鈥� hit No. 1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums this week.
The magazine鈥檚 Sexiest Man Alive special double issue hits newsstands Friday.
Growing up, Shelton told People, he had some awkward years.
鈥淚 think to describe myself as a child, one word comes to mind. And that鈥檚 fat,鈥� he said. 鈥淧eople say I haven鈥檛 changed since before I made it. And I鈥檓 still fat today. That鈥檚 proof!鈥�
He鈥檚 not, of course. He hops on the treadmill to stay in shape, though he acknowledges the allure of chips and dip, a bag of Cheetos when he鈥檚 starving and a trip to Sonic when he鈥檚 back home in Tishomingo.
Shelton wasn鈥檛 the only sexiest man anointed. The magazine named the Pearson men of NBC鈥檚 鈥淭his is Us鈥� as sexiest cast: Sterling K. Brown, who plays Randall; Milo Ventimiglia, who plays Jack; and Justin Hartley, who plays Kevin. Their reveal went to NBC鈥檚 鈥淭oday鈥� show.
鈥淚 think being sexy is just being comfortable in your skin, and these two cats are very comfortable in their skin,鈥� Brown said at a photoshoot of his co-stars
Ventimiglia said he believes humour, confidence and kindness are key. Oh, and 鈥渟tubble.鈥�
Hartley agreed: 鈥淪tubble and forgiveness, that鈥檚 my mantra.
The trio will be featured inside the special issue.
Leanne Italie, The Associated Press
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