Merry Christmas, pardners!

With a little help from artist Douglas Wodark, we'd like to wish you the happiest of holiday seasons.

'Tis the season

Just to get you in the right spirit for last-minute gift shopping, here's Country star Alan Jackson singing "Let It Be Christmas."

The Black West: Buffalo Soldiers, Black Cowboys and Untold Stories

Billed as the largest exhibition of its kind ever assembled to showcase Western art by African-American artists, The Black West: Buffalo Soldiers, Black Cowboys and Untold Stories will open Saturday, Dec. 20, and remain on display through March 22, 2009 at the Booth Western Art Museum in Cartersville, Georgia.

Golden boy

Celebrities, take note: It brings you good luck when you're on the cover of Cowboys & Indians. Latest example of this phenomenon: Hugh Jackman, who graced our December issue, has just gotten the plum job of host for the 81st annual Academy Awards.

More Grammy nods for Trisha Yearwood

Congratulations to Trisha Yearwood -- our January 2008 cover gal -- for her latest batch of Grammy Award nominations: Female Country Vocal Performance ("This is Me You're Talking To"), Country Collaboration With Vocals ("Let the Wind Chase You," with Keith Urban), and Country Album ("Heaven, Heartache and the Power of Love"). Bravo, and good luck. You can see a complete list of this year's Grammy nominations here. Winners will be announced Feb. 8.