Melody Plant

A newly single Taylor Swift was glittering in a gold mini and black cowboy boots as she headlines the 18th Annual Chicago Country Music Festival at the Soldier Field Parkland in Chicago, Illinois. Thousands of country music fans flocked to the festival to watch the 18-year old teen crooner perform. Considering that she just got dumped over the phone by Joe Jonas, the girl doesn’t look a tad bit heartbroken. Taylor put up a strong front! And why shouldn’t she? I doubt anyone would side with the guy who broke a girl’s heart over the phone. Unless of course, he has legions of die hard fans.
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The album cover for Jessica Simpson’s country effort ‘Do You Know’ has been revealed. Her debut country album will be released on Tuesday, September 9th. The 28-year old blonde bombshell of a singer co-wrote all but three tracks on the disc including her top 20 hit single ‘Come on Over’. It was also recently announced that Jessica will be performing at the Akwesasne Music Festival at the Discount Concert Grounds in Hogansburg, New York on August 29. Let’s hope she does better in that show. Her debut country performance was met with a mix of jeers and cheers, but mostly jeers, last time.

Jessica Simpson performed at her first country show this past weekend. Just as most predicted, things did not go as she would have liked. When the wannabe country singer took the stage at the Country Thunder Festival in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin on Saturday night, she was greeted with a mix of cheers and boos, but mostly boos. The reviews of her performance are less than stellar. One critic says “Many audience members found her attempt to crossover into country irritating and that her vocals lacked a southern sound.” In short, Jessica will be completely out of a career before the year comes to an end.

The newest solo country singer Jessica Simpson and her fellow country singing blonde signed autographs at the 2008 CMA Music Festival in Nashville, Tennessee on Friday. She hasn’t even come out with her country album yet but Jessica’s already being treated as a country singing superstar. Country music fans are so accepting. But kudos does go to Jess as her country single ‘Come on Over’ is doing quite well on the Nielsen charts. She may have finally found something that she’s actually good at. But considering that she’s Joe Simpson’s kid, I doubt it would last. He’s going to make her sell out sooner or later.

Alternative music is down but country music is up. AHITS Daily Double says so by citing the attendance of music lovers for Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival (which drew 30,000 fewer people this year as compared to last year) and Stagecoach Country Music Festival (which drew double its audience from last year). But then again, if you compare Coachella lineups of this year and years’ past, it was really weak. Coachella is also on its 9th year while Stagecoach is only on its 2nd. Interest in the actual festivals may be a factor too and not just the love of the music itself.

Here’s some exciting news for you music lovers. It was just confirmed on Wednesday that Prince will be performing at the Coachella music festival near Palm Springs later this month. Considering the less than stellar line up this year, Prince is a really big step up. If you compare this year’s line up to previous years, a good 5 to 10 artists of Prince’s caliber are on the line up. This year, we just got Prince. It’s a pretty good assurance that ticket sales will be going up too. The purple majesty will take the stage on Saturday, April 26.

She might be at the top of both the singles and albums charts – but down-to-earth Duffy still lugs her own suitcases.

Good for her – just goes to prove fame does not make you incapable of such tedious chores – maybe Kate Moss could take the hint and look after her own life too.

The pretty songbird even managed a smile when she was hoofing her bags on her way to a gig in Brighton.

Our favourite Welsh warbler’s debut collection, Rockferry, has already gone platinum after just one week on sale. She is off to Birmingham next before jetting to Texan music festival South By Southwest – and no doubt taking the Yanks by storm.

Heartbroken pop star Lily Allen is undergoing treatment for depression at a top private clinic.

The tragic Smile singer, 22, sank into despair after a miscarriage. She also split with lover Ed Simons, who pals said Lily thought was “the one”.

She bravely tried to battle on but has now decided to seek help. The star is being treated at a residential clinic, but is allowed out to see pals and to film her chat show, Lily Allen and Friends.

A pal said last night: “The last couple of months have been really hard for Lily. She was so happy to be pregnant and was willing to give up her showbiz life to settle down and have a family. Her miscarriage was a huge blow and she hasn’t really recovered. She has tried to put on a brave face but she found she needed to get some professional help.”

Lily recently pulled out of performing at the Isle of Wight Festival in June and she is likely to delay the release date for her forthcoming album. But her troubles started in January with the miscarriage. Her relationship with Ed, 37, hit the rocks and they went on a $6,000-a-night holiday to the Maldives to try to make up, but it didn’t work and they split.

The pal added: “She really believed she and Ed were perfect together so she was devastated when they broke up. But she is responding well to treatment and is pleased that she is being allowed out to film her TV show and to keep in touch with the friends supporting her.”