People magazine has angered its readers by crowning country music star Blake Shelton as its annual ‘Sexiest Man Alive’.

The 41-year-old singer, who is virtually unknown outside the United States, was announced as the winner of the dubious title, which was coined in 1985 in an article about Australian actor Mel Gibson.

The winner is decided by the magazine’s team of editors, with previous honourees including Patrick Swayze, Harrison Ford, Brad Pitt and last year’s winner, Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson.

When the nearly two-metre tall crooner claimed the title, there was mass confusion, with many on social media wondering how the magazine could have overlooked other more viable options.

“I don’t want to live in a country where Blake Shelton is considered sexiest anything,” one Twitter user complained.

“Somebody tell me how Blake Shelton won #SexiestManAlive when there are people like Charlie Hunnam out there?!?!” another said. .

Who exactly is in charge of picking the #SexiestManAlive because we need to sit down and have a long talk. https://t.co/r9DKLdVk5i

— Colleen needs a nap (@ColleenCanTweet) November 15, 2017

– zac efron is alive
– cody christian is alive
– kit harington is alive
– shawn mendes is alive
– zayn is alive
– matthew daddario is alive
– adam lambert is alive
*people magazine*: let’s elect blake shelton as the #SexiestManAlive

— emma 🦂 (@kiIosho) November 15, 2017

The seven-time Grammy nominee appeared to echo these sentiments in his interview for the magazine’s cover story.

Asked about his first reaction to the big news, Shelton said: “That y’all must be running out of people.

“Like, wow, we’re down to somebody who is somewhat symmetrical.

“People are going to hate me over this. We have run out of celebrities with both eyes.”

The Sexiest Man Alive 2017 continued to poke fun at his newfound name on Twitter, writing shortly after the announcement: “I just made a drink. A sexy drink #donthatemebecauseimbeautiful.”

Shelton has been dating singer Gwen Stefani for two years and said it was her who convinced him to accept the title.

“She goes, ‘Listen to me, you’re going to regret this for the rest of your life if you don’t take this gift and just live in the moment’,” he told the magazine.

“I’ve been ugly my whole life, if I can be sexy for a year, I’m taking it,” he joked.

A host on The Voice USA, the Nashville-based country star is best known for love songs like God Gave Me You, which was a tribute to his ex-wife, Miranda Lambert, who is also a country star.

Of her boyfriend’s big win, Stefani told Access Hollywood: “They got that right!

“I knew I was on to something,” she added. “Wow, I’m gonna look really good huh? I already had scored but now I really scored.”