The rumor we heard last week was true:  "People" magazine has named CHANNING TATUM this year's Sexiest Man Alive.  Although he didn't believe it when they told him.

--He says, quote, "My first thought was, 'Y'all are messing with me.'  I told [my wife] after we'd been in the bathtub washing our dogs because they'd gotten skunked.  She was like, 'What?'

--"Yeah, she calls me [the Sexiest Man Alive] now."

(--Here's a picture of Channing's "21 Jump Street" co-star JONAH HILL honoring him . . . by licking the magazine cover.)  (People)

(--An interesting side-note:  Tuesday night on "Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23", JAMES VAN DER BEEK was named Sexiest Man Alive.  And in his photo shoot, he rode a horse PANTS-LESS!  You can see video here.)

--This year's other honorees include:

--Ben Affleck

--Denzel Washington

--Blake Shelton

--Chris Hemsworth

--Max Greenfield from "New Girl"

--Richard Gere

--Matt Bomer

--Leg-free Olympian Oscar Pistorius

--Damian Lewis from "Homeland"

--Paul Rudd

--Bradley Cooper

--Anderson Cooper . . . who's a little sad about being recognized for his GREY HAIR.  (--Here's video from Anderson's show yesterday.)

(--Check out all the Sexiest Man Alive coverage at People.com.)