Happy Anniversary To Country’s 1/1/11 Brides!

Here's a good way to ensure your New Year's holiday is always memorable--get married on January 1st! Last year, not one, but two country gals decided to make 1/1/11 their special day: Shania Twain and Kellie Pickler.

Pickler, who eschewed a big ceremony in favor of escaping to a private Caribbean island with then-fiance Kyle Jacobs, tweeted today that she married her best friend.

The elopement turned out to be a result of Pickler just being plain fed up with wedding planning. "Every time we got to the guest list, it was like, 'Oh my God, I hate half these people,'" she admitted on the Ellen DeGeneres Show last year.

The lack of formal wedding turned out fine for the couple, however. Jacobs himself echoed his wife's "best friend" tweet on 1/1/12, adding the sweet sentiment: "Why God has blessed me with this beautiful girl I may never know, but I am truly thankful..."

Meanwhile, Twain, who found happiness in rather unlikely terms--her husband, Frederic Thiebaud, was formerly married to the woman who allegedly had an affair with Twain's first husband--also is celebrating what is certainly a happy first anniversary. Twain herself told Oprah Winfrey last year that their union was "beautifully twisted."

Well, "twisted" is up to the beholder, but no-one can deny they are beautiful...here's Twain's gorgeous wedding photo as proof!

Twain noted in her 2010 engagement notice to fans that she was "feeling refreshed and optimistic about the future." Things certainly seemed to be going Twain's way in 2011, and I can surmise having a loving and solid partner has only helped.

Hearty congrats to the brides of 1/11/11--may you celebrate at least 50 more years together! Be sure to leave your well-wishes for Kellie and Shania (and Kyle and Fred!) here.

Related links:

Country Music 2011 in review

2011 CMA Awards red carpet photos

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