Let me be very clear that this story is from the National Enquirer.  So I’m not saying it’s true, I’m just telling you what they’ve written about Tim McGraw, just in case you saw it on the newsstand at the grocery store, you saw the story, you thumbed through the magazine looking for the right page, but then you had to sheepishly put it back on the shelf because it was time for you to pay for your groceries.

ANYWAY, they say that the reason Tim fired a bunch of his band members (which is actually true) is that he is worried that they’ll “expose his darkest secrets.”  Supposedly, at some point in his recent tour, he “turned into a tyrant.”  But wait, there’s more:  ”He was short-tempered, and he demanded an impossible level of perfection.”  So then he supposedly started asking band members to sign agreements promising they’d never tell anyone about how he was acting, and that’s what led to the firings.

I’ll say it again…this is from the ENQUIRER.  So it’s probably made up.  But every once in a while they get it right, so I’m just letting you know in case this is one of those times.

NOPE!  Why would there be?  Two totally different worlds, and that’s why we love country music, right?  But I do have two very different reactions to the wedding from some country girls.   Miranda Lambert, who ties the knot in about 2 weeks herself, says she’s obsessed with the royal wedding, and she was planning to set her alarm this morning to catch the whole thing. 

On the other hand, Kellie Pickler, who eloped with her love on New Year’s Day to escape the hassles of a big wedding, says she feels sorry for the royal couple.  “I feel so sorry that on the most important, most beautiful day of their life, it has to be just an open book to the whole world. I mean, they deserve to have their intimate ceremony to their close ones and loved ones. It’s so sad that they get stalked by the paparazzi and the media the way they do. I couldn’t imagine. I know what it’s like on my end, and it’s not even in comparison to what they have to go through.”

How cute is this?  That’s all I have to say, really.

Okay, maybe I do have a little more to say:  Kellie, who is famous in some circles for saying dumb things (though we know she’s actually quite clever and funny), said something pretty brilliant about weddings.  When she and her future-at-the-time husband Kyle sat down to plan what was going to be “the” wedding of the year in Nashville, they suddenly had an epiphany.  Says Kellie:  “When two people get married, it’s not about the glamour…It’s about the bride and groom and God.”   So they ditched the big wedding plans and eloped to an island in the Caribbean, just the two of them.    “I can’t think of a word that quite describes how perfect it was,” she says. 

I often wonder with these super-duper-glam-expensive celebrity weddings whether the people involved are even able to concentrate on each other and the committment they are making, or if they’re too busy worrying if their $300,000 flower order will arrive on time.  It also makes me wonder if they are getting married because they love each other or because they just want to have pretty pictures in People magazine.  So way to go, Kellie!

Kellie and Kyle!  Kellie Pickler eloped with her man of three years, songwriter Kyle Jacobs, to a remote island in the Caribbean where they married on the beach on 1/1/11.  So that’s two country stars tying the knot on a beach on the same day (see Shania below).  Kellie Tweeted twice:  “Yes, it’s true, @kylecjacobs and I said “I do!” Thank you Jesus.”  and then:  “Private Island. Caribbean. Cigar in one hand, Rum in the other. Someone just called me “Mrs. Jacobs.”….sounds nice!”  Congrats to Kellie, who we love so much.

Kellie Pickler has always loved Clint Eastwood…she’s told us that a bunch of times.  So you can imagine that she freaks out when Ellen surprises her with Clint.

Also this classic Kellie-ness:

Sorry, I can never resist.  I’m talking about a dog.  Kellie Pickler and Kyle Jacobs, who are engaged to be married, have added yet another dog to their brood.  His name is Tucker, and he’s a 10-month old Weimeraner puppy who up til recently was living with Kellie’s sister.  Tucker joins Pixie, Maddie, MooMoo (pictured below), and Kellie’s snake Boots.  Which by the way, is the most genius name EVER for a snake.  Works for two reasons, as snakes don’t have feet, and they often end up being turned into boots. 

Kellie Pickler has already done 3 USO tours overseas, and she’s got the star tattoos to prove it (She had one done after each trip.)  So now that she’s announced an upcoming 4th tour, will she add yet another star to her arm?  No.  Kellie says she plans to do lots of USO trips in her future, and “I don’t know that I would look good in a sleeve tattoo.”  She also says that as long as they keep asking, she’ll keep going, which is good news for all of those soldiers overseas, especially those of the straight male variety.

It’s quite lovely.  Click here to see it…

Congrats to Kellie Pickler.  People magazine has just announced that she’s engaged to Kyle Jacobs, her boyfriend of more than 2 years.  Kyle popped the question on a Florida beach last week, but what made it extra special for Kellie was that he chose the anniversary of her beloved Grandmother’s death, a day that would normally be sad for her.  Kellie is thrilled, and says that she feels like they have her grandma’s blessing.

Her personality is so addicting, funny and just out there!  Check her out again on Ellen where she talks about getting pulled over and her Grandfather’s love of The Black Eyed Peas!