Country Strong : InStyle.com What's Right Now

Leighton Meester Models for Missoni

Jan 11, 2011 @ 12:46 pm

Leighton Meester is off to a banner year. First, her role in Country Strong garnered her glowing reviews, Gossip Girl returns in less than two weeks, and, today she became the face of Missoni, appearing in the label’s spring 2011 campaign (right) smiling atop a rocking horse. Does this mean she’ll wear Missoni when she’s takes the stage at the Golden Globes this Sunday to present an award? We’ll see. In the meantime, click through the gallery to see Leighton Meester’s memorable Missoni looks on the red carpet.

MORE:
• Leighton Meester to Front Vera Wang Fragrance
• Watch Leighton Meester’s Music Video

— Anne L. Fritz

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Jennifer Lopez Robert Pattinson present at the Golden Globe Awards

Ramey Photo; Wireimage

Jennifer Lopez and Robert Pattinson to Present at Golden Globe Awards

Jan 5, 2011 @ 11:10 am

The Golden Globes ceremony is only 11 days away, which means final details are locking into place as you read this. The Hollywood Foreign Press gave us a little tease of what to expect at the January 16 event by announcing the first presenters via the Golden Globe Twitter feed: Jennifer Lopez, Robert Pattinson and Matt Damon. Country Strong stars Leighton Meester and Garrett Hedlund will also take the stage to present awards. Which celebrity are you most looking forward to seeing at the Golden Globes? Tell us in the comments below!

MORE:
• 2011 Golden Globe Nominations
• See the Superstars Nominated for Best Song
• Meet Miss Golden Globe: Gia Mantegna

— Anne L. Fritz

Scott Garfield/Courtesy Everett Collection; Landov

Gwyneth Paltrow Looked to Beyonce for Tips

Jan 3, 2011 @ 3:58 pm

Gwyneth Paltrow didn’t just become a country music singer overnight. The Oscar-winning actress (and Glee guest star) relied on her friends for pointers to perfect her role in Country Strong. “I was playing a bonafide superstar and that’s what kind of scared me the most,” our January cover girl told Good Morning America.” I thought, ‘How am I going to realistically pull this off?’ So I studied Beyonce to see how she performs and that kind of amazing confidence she has. I thought if I could just channel a little thimbleful of Beyonce’s confidence, then you know.” Catch Country Strong when it opens nationwide on Friday. And for more from Gwyneth Paltrow, pick up a copy of January’s InStyle issue, on newsstands now.

MORE:
• Gwyneth Paltrow’s 2010 CMA Performance
• Leighton Meester: Country Music Career?

— Anne L. Fritz

Watch Leighton Meester’s Country Strong Music Video

Dec 20, 2010 @ 11:12 am

Matt Baron / BEImages

Leighton Meester traded in her preppy Upper East Side Gossip Girl attitude and wardrobe to play Texas beauty queen and country singer Chiles Stanton in Country Strong. Can’t wait to see the movie, which also stars Gwyneth Paltrow and Tim McGraw, when it opens January 7th? Neither can we! See Meester’s video for “Summer Girl,” one of the tunes she sings in the movie, after the jump.

MORE:
• Leighton Meester on singing country
• Watch the trailer for Country Strong

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— Anne L. Fritz

John Shearer/WireImage

Leighton Meester: Country Strong Influenced My Songwriting

Dec 15, 2010 @ 11:07 am

Leighton Meester may play a beauty queen-turned-singer alongside Gwyneth Paltrow and Tim McGraw in the upcoming movie Country Strong, but the Gossip Girl star admitted that a country music career isn’t in her immediate future. “I’m definitely not coming out with a country album any time soon,” Meester (in Christian Dior) told us last night at the film’s Los Angeles premiere. “But I enjoy it. This is different than anything I’ve done. It’s definitely influenced my style of songwriting.” Her country music superstar co-star Tim McGraw played a huge role: “We sat down for hours and talked about everything,” the 24-year-old said of McGraw. “He was my mentor in the movie and in real life, too.” Meester, who signed a record contract with Universal last April, sings a cover of “Words I Couldn’t Say” by Rascal Flatts on the movie’s soundtrack.

MORE:
• Gwyneth Paltrow on her role in Country Strong

— Sharon Clott, with reporting by Lindzi Scharf

Watch Leighton Meester Sing in Country Strong

Nov 23, 2010 @ 10:28 am

We’ve heard Gwyneth Paltrow belt it out in the upcoming Country Strong, and now here’s a first look at co-star Leighton Meester‘s turn as Southern crooner. In a cute denim skirt and gingham blouse, she duets with Garrett Hedlund (who also stars in the upcoming TRON: Legacy) in the sexy song “Give Into Me.” We’re sensing some serious on-screen chemistry between these co-stars, which only makes us want to see the flick more! Make sure to check out Country Strong when it hits theaters on January 7th! More

— Kendall Herbst

Mark Humphrey/AP photo

Gwyneth Paltrow Sings at CMA Awards

Nov 11, 2010 @ 1:57 pm

Yep, you read that right. Gwyneth Paltrow took to the stage in Lanvin at last night’s Country Music Association Awards to promote her upcoming movie, Country Strong. While it’s not her first time singing in a movie, it’s a safe bet that it was her first time performing live in front of country greats including Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood and Miranda Lambert, not to mention a televised audience of millions. She performed the movie’s title song—and received a standing ovation. If you can’t wait until the film’s December release date to hear Gwyneth sing, watch the video from last night after the jump!

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— Anne L. Fritz

Check Out Gwyneth Paltrow in Country Strong!

Sep 10, 2010 @ 3:48 pm

Gwyneth Paltrow is starring in a new film, Country Strong, alongside country superstar Tim McGraw and Gossip Girl‘s Leighton Meester. In the film, Paltrow plays a famous country singer who attempts to revive her career after a booze-fueled downward spiral. McGraw plays her husband and manager, while Meester plays a young up-and-coming songstress threatening Paltrow’s success. Check out the trailer above, then tell us: Will you go see Country Strong when it hits theaters this winter? More

— Rachel Jacoby