American Idol Alum Kellie Pickler Is a Military Pinup Girl in Maxim—We Salute This!

The American Idol alum graces the cover of Maxim in a retro-style bikini that will make you want to stand up and salute!

By Leslie Gornstein Jul 24, 2012 5:53 PMTags
E! Placeholder Image

Nothing says U.S. of A more than Kellie Pickler.

No, really, think about it: Country music, blond hair and a raft of homespun wisdom going back to her American Idol debut in 2005.

"I had my first spinach salad," our American sage once said. "It kinda tasted like pickin' a leaf off a bush."

All that. And what do you know? She cleans up real nice on a magazine cover, too.

For the record, that two-piece she's wearing on the cover is a bikini (can we ever have enough of those?) by Eres. Love the high-waisted retro feel of the shorts and the unapologetic va-va-voom going on up top.

The jewels? CZ by Kenneth Jay Lane.

The occasion? Well, Pickler is a big supporter of the U.S.O., and this cover honors the U.S. military.

"I come from a military family," she tells the mag. "My grandfather is a retired Marine, and I've always had a great deal of respect for anyone who serves our country. It really does take someone special to sacrifice everything."

Now that's all-American.