'07 Players
BEYONCÈKNOWLES
Last spring, when SI chose music as its theme for the 2007 Swimsuit Issue,senior editor Diane Smith immediately set her sights on the nine-time Grammywinner. Not only was Beyoncé, 25, in the midst of an extraordinary 2006, inwhich she landed a lead role in Dreamgirls and her album B'Day hit the top ofthe charts, but she had also launched a swimsuit line (above) under her Houseof Deréon clothing label. Posing for SI was a natural fit, says Beyoncé, whoadds, "I wanted something timeless to show my kids one day, so I can say,'See, Mama was beautiful.'"
Aerosmith
Since 1970 theserockers have laid down 14 studio albums, won four Grammys and hung out withtheir share of gorgeous ladies. "At the end of the day," says leadsinger Steven Tyler (center), whose jam session with model Bar Refaeli frontsthe musicians and models photo gallery (page 106), "it really is all aboutthe girl."
Kanye West
It didn't takemuch to get the rapper, who will release his third album, Graduation, in thefall, to pose with Anne V (page 108). Aside from the obvious, the two werealready friends. Add to that West's fashion sense (his Pastelle line debutslater this year), and everything else was, as Anne V says, "likemagic."
Gnarls Barkley
Asked during hershoot whose music she'd most like to hear, Beyoncé named the breakout duo ofDanger Mouse (far left) and Cee-Lo, who'd get their own modeling turn withJessica White seven weeks later (page 110). On Feb. 11 Beyoncé got to hear thepair up close as she and the two rappers shared the stage at the Grammys.
Kenny Chesney
No Shoes, NoShirt, No Problem could easily have been the anthem for Chesney's shoot withMarisa Miller (page 112). The 2006 Country Music Awards Entertainer of the Yearwas completely chill in the company of Miller, who says, "Kenny wasway-y-y-y cool, so down to earth."
Panic! At theDisco
Panic! At thephoto shoot too. These Las Vegas--born alt rockers admitted to pregame jittersbefore their session with Julie Henderson (page 114). Ultimately they were ableto tap the confidence that comes with success, including their hit album AFever You Can't Swat Out and five MTV Video Music Award nominations in '06.
SI.COM/SWIMSUIT
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CLIFF WATTS
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MATTHEW DONALDSON/ATLANTIC RECORDS
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