Like everyone else on the planet, I spent much of the weekend watching the Olympics. I tuned in late on Friday, and was surprised to see a commercial for General Motors that featured Brandi Carlile singing “The Story.” First of all, as much as I love that song, it doesn’t exactly scream “cars and trucks” to me. But, I was more surprised that Carlile, who I know to be an environmentalist, would agree to the commercial.

After all, Carlile announced last year that she would be donating a portion of every concert ticket sold to help offset all the emissions from her fall tour. In a journal entry on her Web site, she wrote:

The money will help support Reverb's mission as well as NativeEnergy's family farm methane projects, which help reduce global warming pollution by reducing the amount of fossil fuels the farms themselves use for heat, cooling and electricity or by preventing emissions of methane gas from manure stored in lagoons. By helping build new clean and renewable energy projects with NativeEnergy, we''ll reduce CO2 pollution by helping change how power is made.

Clearly the telepathy between Brandi and I is strong, because she posted another journal entry this weekend, explaining that she agreed to the commercial only after GM indicated the song would be used to help promote alternative fuel options and eco-friendly car styles. … continue reading

Living in Texas, I keep a low profile about not being a country music fan, but Reba McEntire is someone I can listen to. And I know she’s one of the hardest-working women in show business. Besides her music career, she’s an author, a fashion designer, an actor on television, film and Broadway and a presence at countless charitable events. That’s why Reba is the ideal choice to be Billboard’s first Woman of the Year.

I learned two rather impressive facts about McEntire in reading about her career. She is the No. 1 best-selling female country singer of all time and the No. 2 best selling female artist (all genres) of all time. Barbra Streisand is No. 1. Plus, Reba has received 73 awards to date — to see them all in one place, scroll to the bottom half of her Wikipedia page. Perhaps most impressive is how she looks at age 52.

Whether you’re a country fan or not, you’re going to hear a lot about McEntire in coming weeks. Her latest album, Duets, released this week, features a lineup that includes Carole King, Justin Timberlake and Kelly Clarkson. Clarkson and McEntire met in 2002 when they performed together on a postseason American Idol special and have become close friends. … continue reading

Last night’s Teen Choice Awards could have been called the More Evidence That High School Musical Is Taking Over the Universe Awards. But I guess that would be too long to fit on the trophies. While South of Nowhere lost the Choice Breakout TV show award to Heroes, fellow AfterEllen.com reader favorite Degrassi won the Choice Summer TV award. See the complete list of winners here. In the interest of full disclosure, I’ll admit that I did not watch the show. I’m so far out of the teen demographic that to tune in would have been mildly creepy. However, I have no problem scanning the pictures afterward. Voyeurism, journalism — it’s a thin line. And with that, I give you my completely unprofessional, randomly snarky thoughts on the stars of the Teen Choice Awards.

Hilary Duff and Eve: Is this too much back and front for these ladies to be showing at a show for teenagers, or am I just a being a prude?

Ashley Jensen and America Ferrera: These two are causing me to have some decidedly R-rated thoughts during an entirely PG-rated show.

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Love means never having to say you’re sorry. Fame, not so much. Kelly Clarkson has learned the hard way that being refreshingly candid can sometimes require the online equivalent of sending a muffin basket — saying sorry on your official website. Kelly has apologized for her “supposed feud” with legendary record executive Clive Davis in a post this week (read the full statement here):

“Contrary to recent characterizations in the press, I'm well aware that Clive is one of the great record men of all time. He has been a key advisor and has been an important force in my success to date. He has also given me respect by releasing my new album when he was not obligated to do so. I really regret how this has turned out and I apologize to those whom I have done disservice. I would never intentionally hurt anyone.” … continue reading

After all the hype and (negative) buzz around Kelly Clarkson's newest album, My December, which is officially available today, you might be forgiven for being sick of all the gossip and/or prejudging it as a pissy attempt to throw off the reins of her big bad corporate boss, Clive Davis.

Or, if you're like me, after having read all the self-possessed, strong-minded things Kelly has said lately, you couldn't wait to get your hands on the actual album and make your own judgments about Miss Independent's third album. Now that I've carefully listened to it (you can too at AOL or MuchMusic), I have to say that I agree with Blender and Entertainment Weekly, who gave the CD quite positive reviews. My December is certainly not the pop album that Breakaway was, but anybody who expected her to repeat "Since U Been Gone" has been smoking too much fantasy crack. … continue reading

How do you follow a chart-topping smash like that one? With an album like My December in which you declare, "I wanna do it my way, and you're gonna listen to me, dammit."

I swore we wouldn't blog about Kelly Clarkson again for at least a week, especially now that her upcoming tour has been canceled, but this video cappuccinogirlie tipped us off to in the forum was too good to pass up. Kelly Clarkson and Reba McEntire (love Reba!) recently performed a duet of Kelly's hit single "Since You've Been Gone" for a special slated to air on CMT on June 24th.

What's so interesting about it? Kelly inexplicably changed a pivotal word in the lyrics, singing: "You were dedicated, you took the time, it wasn't long until I called her mine." The official lyrics are, "it wasn't long until I called you mine," not "her." Draw your own conclusions. … continue reading

I have always liked Kelly Clarkson. She is my favorite American Idol winner to date, thanks to her big voice, spunky attitude and everygirl charm. Plus, who doesn't love singing along to "Miss Independent" in the car?

As the cover girl on this month's Elle, the tiny Texan dons a suit and opens up about her embattled new album, her guarded personal life and her unvarnished take on the industry. After finishing the whole thing, my only thought was, "Rock on, sister friend!"

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The singer of killer breakup songs confessed that she has never been in love:

In the most recent issue of Entertainment Weekly, Kelly Clarkson talks about the process of making her upcoming third album, My December, due out June 26. It's being billed as "dark," and Clarkson herself admits that the album is a bit different: "This record is more intense, it's more raw, it's more emotional. But it's not that different. It's not Metallica."

Clarkson had to struggle to wrest control over this album from the record label who wanted her to reunite with the producers behind the runaway smash Breakaway, but when she presented them with her new songs, they apparently thought the album was "too negative." And tracks such as "Hole" in which she declares "There's a hole inside of me/It's so damn cold, slowing killing me" might prove their point. (Alternatively, maybe they objected to the teen angstiness of it?) … continue reading

But the pop star thinks they objected because of a more basic problem: sexism.

Admit it, Kelly Clarkson's rendition of the Patty Griffin (genius!) song "Up To the Mountain (MLK Song)" on American Idol last week reminded you of just how much you love Miss Independent, didn't it? … continue reading

You may have heard that Kelly Clarkson is releasing her third CD, My December, later this year (the official release date hasn't been announced, but it's likely due out this summer). The first single, "Never Again," has just hit the airwaves, and in my opinion, it rocks. Here's Kelly's new look:

When she won the first season of American Idol, I wasn't so sure that she was gonna make it as a pop star, but after her second album, Breakaway, was released, she crossed over from guilty pleasure to full-on rock star. And after hearing an entire bar full of dykes singing along to "Since U Been Gone" a couple of years ago, I realized she has also crossed over into full-on lesbian icon. (Yeah, we've heard the rumors, too.) … continue reading