The November issue of Vanity Fair, which arrived in my mailbox a couple of days ago, features a photo spread of country music artists (it has George Clooney on the cover–yum!). Among those pictured are Alison Krauss and Ralph Stanley. They share page 290 in a photo taken in Hatch Show Print. Alison looks very glam in a full-length grey ruffley dress by Rochas, holding a beautifully inlayed fiddle sporting a carved head where the scroll usually is. Ralph, in an old-fashioned suit with a vest and tailed coat, has a bit of an impish grin on his face. His banjo has “Dr. Ralph Stanley” inlayed in the neck.

Also of special note is the picture of Keith Urban (recently Mr. Nicole Kidman) who is posing with a banjo (!)–five-string, Gibson (I think, the headstock is just cut off) and he’s holding it as if he actually knows how to play it. TWO banjos in one issue of VF. Amazing.

Among the other artists pictured are Willie Nelson, Gretchen Wilson, George Jones, Kris Kristofferson, Steve Earle, Patty Griffin, T Bone Burnett, Porter Wagoner, Lyle Lovett, Emmylou Harris, Dwight Yokum, and Dolly Parton. Available at a news stand or bookstore near you.