Gossip Teen

Oh thank goodness…

Not that we don’t love us some Taylor Swift, but casting her as Eponine in the upcoming film adaptation of Les Miserables just didn’t seem natural.  Or like a good idea.  At all.

While the 22-year-old was understandably bummed by the announcement that she won’t be gracing the silver screen anytime soon (besides lending her voice to a character in The Lorax) we’re sure her three ACM nominations (and grabbing a quick grande something-or-other) more than made up for it.

Don’t worry TSweezy, they have to make a Valentine’s Day: Part II sometime don’t they?  Oh wait, they already did, but they called it something weird like New Year’s Eve…

One of our absolute favorite country artists – make that favorite artists period – Canaan Smith released the awesome video for his hit single “We Got Us” today and because he is a major GT fan (see below) we thought you guys should be some of the first to lay eyes on its musical goodness.

Canaan sat down with us earlier this month to dish about surviving life on the road and what goes into making a hit record and we could not be more excited about being a part of his journey to the top!  Check out our exclusive interview with Canaan HERE and make sure to watch the premiere of his video for “We Got Us” below!

Was I right or was I right?

Man, Zac Efron sure gets around!  One minutes he’s rumored to be dating Emma Roberts, then the next thing you know, he’s hooking up with Rumer Willis and now we hear he’s arm-in-arm with T-Sweezy (that’s Taylor Swift for those of you just joining us) – who’s next?  Meryl Streep?

Obviously not. She’s old.  That’s gross.

Moving on – the 24-year-old was spotted with country music sweetheart, Taylor Swift, at the L.A. eatery Place on January 6th.

Can we pause here for a moment?  If I could have one wish for Hollywood, it would be that someone could open up a restaurant with a normal, non-pretentious name.  Place?  Really?  We’re going to eat at Place?  What’s next, Over There?  Or how about, Here?  You’re a restaurant.  You serve food on tiny plates with weird sauces.  Get over yourselves.

Phew!

According to sources, the pair, who arrived together were,

…Deep in conversation and very giggly… They seemed very friendly.

However, other insiders speculate that the dinner wasn’t romantic at all and was, in fact, strictly business,

They were in L.A. doing press stuff together [for Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax… And after they were done, they decided to grab dinner.

Snoozeville!  Let’s all just pretend that they are dating – that’s way more fun!

Reunited and it feels so good!

BFFs Taylor Swift and Selena Gomez finally got to log some serious hang time hours when the two hooked up to hang with pals earlier this week. According to sources, the gals gabbed, gossiped and wrote in their dream journals until the wee hours of the morning.

Okay, that part I made up, but it does sort of seem like something they’d do.

The gal pals’ bond seems to be stronger than ever, despite the fact that Selena recently took to her Twitter to announce that she has a new BBF – her puppy Baylor!

Hooray for Hollywood Besties

Well, maybe “stuns” is a strong word – but at least, for once, country phenom Taylor Swift doesn’t look like she just walked into a giant surprise party.

The 22-year-old looks trendy and polished on the February cover of VOGUE - her straightened, blonde locks certainly dull her down to look much more mainstream, which kind of bums me out.  I’m not a huge T.Swift fan (don’t get me wrong, I’m sure she’s a super nice girl, but I just can stomach anymore of the “Who me!?!?” act), but I have always liked that she has a different look about her – this picture has her looking like some kind of a Gweneth Paltrow wannabe.

Personally, I’m more looking forward to the rumored March cover girl – Adele!

They say you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover.  And usually, that’s good advice – except for when the book has an undeniably charming and overtly talented cover, which does nothing but enclose a slew of undeniably charming and overtly talented pages.  Then, well then – judge away my friends.

You might recognize breakout Universal recording artist Canaan Smith from his stint on season 15 of the popular CBS reality show, The Amazing Race, and although the Williamsburg, VA native certainly won our hearts by admirably defending girlfriend Mika Combs against some brutish Harlem Globetrotters, it’s his undeniable musical talent and contagious personality that are sure to cement him in the forefront of country music for years to come.

GossipTeen sat down with the 28-year-old to get an inside peek at what it takes to be one of America’s most popular new country artists.

GossipTeen: What inspired you to write your first single, “We’ve Got Us”?

Canaan Smith: Times are tough for most everybody right now. Pennies being pinched. But it’s especially tough for the young and in love. Starting life together is all they wanna do, and love is the only thing they have to their name. We got us is for them. Going up against the odds. Letting love be enough.

GT: What’s been the most exciting part of your musical journey thus far?

CS: Getting to take my music to the people. I’ve had the opportunity to play in front of a lot of people recently, and it’s the best part about being an artist. Watching the music hit their ears. Just knowing that for 3 and a half minutes, we’re speaking the same language.

GT: What’s the one thing you cannot live without while you’re on the road?

CS: My phone. I love responding to twitter comments and Facebook posts. And without it, there’d be no Angry Birds.

GT: If you could perform/write with any one musician living or dead, who would it be?

CS: Paul McCartney. I do music because of the Beatles. Paul especially seemed to be a master of melody and story. His sticky hooks span generations.

GT: What’s the most embarrassing/funny thing that’s happened while you’ve been on the road promoting your new single?

CS: I was opening for a headliner in West Virginia who I always thought was great, but I had no idea what he looked like. So after my set, this guy backstage tells me how great I did and we’re going on and on about my music when I asked him ‘what’s your name?’. I wanted to crawl into a hole when I figured it out.

GT: What’s something that people may not know about you?

CS: I’m 1 of 6 kids. 5 boys and 1 poor girl.

For more information about Canaan and his single “We’ve Got Us” click on over to CanaanSmith.com and be sure to check out the video below for an exclusive message from Canaan to his awesome GossipTeen fans!

Former Sonny with a Chance star Demi Lovato has certainly had enough drama in her life to pen a country song – so it came as no surprise when the 19-year-old singer Tweeted, “wrote my first country song today,” earlier this week.

We just hope it’s not about her dog dying and her truck breaking down – I mean, how much can one girl take?

The Texas native says she’s always been a fan of country music, and counts Rascal Flatts, Kenny Chesney and BFF Taylor Swift among a few of her favorites acts.

So has the mega-pop star gone country for good?  We certainly hope not, but we’re excited to see what the “Skyscraper” songstress has come up with!

[Image: WENN]

Get ready to set your TiVos, because everyone’s favorite holiday hottie, Justin Bieber, will be performing on the 13th Annual “A Home for the Holidays with Martina McBride” special, airing tonight at 8pm EST on CBS.    Along with fellow artists, Mary J. Blige, OneRepublic, Christina Perri and Gavin DeGraw, Bieber’s performance will help raise money “to help increase the number of adoptions for those children waiting in the United States foster care system.”

Two and a Half Men star Denise Richards, who adopted her daughter Eloise earlier this year, will act as the evening’s MC, along with New Year’s Eve star, Katherine Heigl and her adopted sister sister Meg Heigl-Beltran.

The performance is sponsored in part by Wendy’s (Did somebody say Big Bacon Classic???) whose founder, Dave Thomas was adopted as a child and established the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption in 1992.

Don’t you just love to see celebrities getting together around the holidays to support a great cause?

For more information or to donate to the cause, visit www.davethomasfoundation.org or call 1-800-ASK-DTFA.

The last single member of the mega-hot country group Lady Antebellum is officially off the market.

Sorry ladies!

Bandmember Dave Haywood announced his engagement to longtime girlfriend Kelli Cashiola yesterday, just in time to ensure he’d have someone to kiss under the mistletoe at this year’s Capitol Records Christmas party.  According to sources, the 29-year-old musician surprised his bride-to-be by blindfolding her outside of her office and driving her to her Nashville home where “Will you marry me?” was spelled out in Christmas lights.

Awwwww!

But Haywood isn’t the only member of Lady A who will be saying “I do” in the near feature; bandmate Hilary Scott announced her engagement to the band’s drummer Chris Tyrell earlier this year.  Looks like there are going to be a whole lot of big, fat, country music weddings coming our way in 2012!

[Image: Adriana M. Barraza/WENN]

It’s the most wonderful time of the year… Awards Season!!!

That’s right ladies and gentlemen, the 2012 Grammy nominations are in and we’ve got them for you, along with our predictions of who will be taking home the gilded gramophones!

Album Of The Year:

Adele, “21”

Foo Fighters, “Wasting Light”

Lady Gaga, “Born This Way”

Bruno Mars, “Doo-Wops and Hooligans”

Rihanna, “Loud”

GossipTeen Pick:  Adele should get the nod on this one, but I have a sneaking suspicion that Gaga will be walking away the winner of AOY.

Record Of The Year:

Adele, “Rolling in the Deep”

Bon Iver, “Holocene”

Bruno Mars, “Grenade”

Mumford & Sons, “The Cave”

Katy Perry, “Firework”

GossipTeen Pick:  SUCH a tough call.  For me, it’s a toss up between Bon Iver’s “Holocene” and Mumford & Sons’ ”The Cave”, but with “Rolling in the Deep’s” huge radio success, Adele  will most likely be the victor for ROY.

Song Of The Year:

“All Of The Lights” — Jeff Bhasker, Malik Jones, Warren Trotter & Kanye West, songwriters. (Kanye West, Rihanna, Kid Cudi & Fergie)

“The Cave” — Ted Dwane, Ben Lovett, Marcus Mumford & Country Winston, songwriters (Mumford & Sons)

“Grenade” — Brody Brown, Claude Kelly, Philip Lawrence, Ari Levine, Bruno Mars & Andrew Wyatt, songwriters (Bruno Mars)

“Holocene” — Justin Vernon, songwriter (Bon Iver)

“Rolling In The Deep” — Adele Adkins & Paul Epworth, songwriters (Adele)

GossipTeen Pick: Again, a tough call here, but I think “All of the Lights” will emerge victorious.

Best New Artist:

The Band Perry

Bon Iver

J. Cole

Nicki Minaj

Skrillex

GossipTeen Pick: If we’re going on outright success, this award should go to Nicki Minaj.  The girl is everywhere and has created an incredible brand for herself.

Pop Vocal Album:

“21,” Adele

“The Lady Killer,” Cee Lo Green

“Born This Way,” Lady Gaga

“Doo-Wops & Hooligans,” Bruno Mars

“Loud,” Rihanna.

GossipTeen Pick:  Personally, I love ALL of these albums and if it were up to me, I’d give the award to Bruno Mars, just because I love, love, love his sound, BUT my prediction is that the gramophone will go to “Born This Way”.

Rock Album:

“Rock ‘n’ Roll Party Honoring Les Paul,” Jeff Beck

“Wasting Light,” Foo Fighters

“Come Around Sundown,” Kings of Leon

“I’m With You,” Red Hot Chili Peppers

“The Whole Love,” Wilco.

GossipTeen Pick:  I’m not overwhelmed by the rock category this year.  If I had to choose, which I do for the sake of this post, I’d go with Jeff Beck’s ”Rock ‘n’ Roll Party Honoring Les Paul”, just because he’s reDICULOUSLY talented – but truthfully, none of the nominees blew me away this go-around.

R&B Album:

“F.A.M.E.,” Chris Brown

“Second Chance,” El DeBarge

“Love Letter,” R. Kelly

“Pieces of Me,” Ledisi

“Kelly,” Kelly Price.

GossipTeen Pick:  All I can say, is that if Chris Brown wins, I quit life.  But seriously, the nod should go to Kelly Price for “Kelly”.

Rap Album:

“Watch the Throne,” Jay-Z and Kanye West

“Tha Carter IV,” Lil Wayne

“Lasers,” Lupe Fiasco

“Pink Friday,” Nicki Minaj

“My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy,” Kanye West.

GossipTeen Pick: It’s either going to be “Watch the Throne” or “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy”.  Either way Kanye West comes out a winner, so his ego should be about the size of mainland China by the end of the night.

Country Album:

“My Kinda Party,” Jason Aldean

“Chief,” Eric Church

“Own the Night,” Lady Antebellum

“Red River Blue,” Blake Shelton

“Here for a Good Time,” George Strait

“Speak Now,” Taylor Swift.

GossipTeen Pick:  Again, totally underwhelmed by the nominees this year for Country Album of the Year.  The safe pick would be to go with Taylor Swift, but hopefully Lady Antebellum’s “Own the Night” will walk away a winner.

The 2012 Grammy Awards air on CBS on February 12, 2012.