STARS SHARE THEIR FAVORITE THANKSGIVING MEMORIES
• RODNEY ATKINS: Besides turkey and dressing, one tradition the family follows is his grandmother’s recipe for chicken and dumplings. Rodney also makes time to go hunting, although he doesn’t usually have much luck.
• MARK WILLS: Thanksgiving will be spent with his family and the next day will be spent with wife Kelly’s family.
• DARIUS RUCKER: Typically the holiday is spent with his family or his wife’s, with football being a big part of the day.
• RANDY HOUSER: He always winds up cooking chicken on the grill. His mom will do a turkey, but there really isn’t a big event. He describes it as a time to lay around, eat and get fatter.
• JASON MICHAEL CARROLL: The meal rotates among family members, but there’s always a video game challenge.
• EMERSON DRIVE’s Brad Mates: Eats as much turkey as possible and hides some of his mom’s mashed potatoes in the back of the fridge for leftovers.
• ZAC BROWN: Has one Thanksgiving with his family that is traditional food and a second with his friends that is usually something unusual like steaks on the grill
• JENNIFER NETTLES: Her Thanksgiving tradition is going to see a movie of some kind
WHAT THE STARS ARE MOST GRATEFUL FOR
• ALAN JACKSON: His wife, Denise, their 30-year marriage, learning from mistakes, their pets, their daughters and their faith
• TRACE ADKINS: The time he got to spend with American troops
• JACK INGRAM: Bud Light, Willie, Waylon and the boys, and rocker Tom Petty — in no particular order
• DIERKS BENTLEY: The sacrifice and strength of the troops’ families.
• RODNEY ATKINS: His wife, kids, sleep, TiVo, our troops, saline sinus rinse, hot tubs, health, vodka, and when his wife gets in the hot tub with nothing on but a ponytail holder
• LEE ANN WOMACK: Her country music appreciation and social club
• ZAC BROWN: His wife, his new schedule, and bath time with his young daughters
• CARRIE UNDERWOOD: For having a childhood mentor in her fifth grade music teacher that encouraged her to take the spotlight
• GRETCHEN WILSON: For being a mom
• JOE NICHOLS: That he’s been given a second chance after a battle with alcoholism.
• LADY ANTEBELLUM’s Charles Kelly: For all the home cooked meals he gets when he gets off the road
• DARIUS RUCKER: iChat. He uses it with his wife and kids and he says it’s better than a phone.
• The guys in RASCAL FLATTS are thankful for time off the road. While they love the fans and touring, Thanksgiving is a time to reflect and re-connect with family.