Jessica Simpson often cites legends like Willie Nelson and Dolly Parton as her musical heroes. But who among the newer country artists really impresses her these days? The Boot got a rather surprising answer when we posed that question to the pop turned country star.

"I think it's impressive how many No. 1s Carrie Underwood has," Simpson told us, with a nervous laugh. "Her choice in songs is really great, and she has an incredible voice. As far as new people, she has one of the strongest voices out there."

So what about this supposed rivalry between the two songbirds?

Julianne Hough, already gearing up for a new partner on the upcoming season of 'Dancing With the Stars,' is getting cozy with a new partner in real life, too: country star Chuck Wicks.

"It's very difficult to date. I just got kind of lucky!" Hough tells PEOPLE magazine of her new relationship with the 'Stealing Cinderella' singer. "He's just a great guy! He's awesome and really, really talented ... I'm having a great time getting to know him."

He was once her acting mentor, now Willie Nelson is playing musical mentor to Jessica Simpson. Simpson says the Redheaded Stranger had a big influence on her decision to move from pop to country.

"You can't not sit in front of Willie and just be in complete awe," Simpson tells Dial-Global. "Every time I would sit with him, he would play Patsy Cline and Waylon Jennings, just some really great music. And he would pick up the guitar and we would sing 'Will The Circle Be Unbroken,' and it just felt like my voice was at home."

The Boot rounds up this week's most memorable quotes from country stars.

"Faith and I have joked about doing 'On Golden Pond' on Broadway when we get older ... The idea of me being a crotchety old dude -- I'm not far from that now!" -Tim MGraw to PEOPLE magazine

"Jolene was a real woman who tried to steal my man. And sometimes now I think I should get a hold of her and see if she wants him back!" -Dolly Parton, introducing her hit song 'Jolene' to her Seattle, Wash. concert audience

"I wish everyone had a label on their forehead so you could automatically tell their intentions," -Carrie Underwood to Allure magazine

As the success of Sugarland grows, so does lead singer Jennifer Nettles' fame, which is proving tough on her love life. After divorcing husband Todd Van Sickle in April of last year, the challenge of dating again has proved daunting, Nettles admits, particularly while she is embracing her celebrity status.

"It's definitely something that you can be conscious of and say, 'Is this person aware of me and attracted to me for me, or is there something with my job?' " she reveals to Nashville's Tennessean newspaper. "This is why people date within their peer group, within the entertainment industry, because people have an understanding of the schedule and what it's like to be or be around people that have a job in the spotlight, so they are less attracted to the job. But you also have to get used to the fact that other people care who I am seeing or what I am doing."

John Rich is an outspoken supporter of Republican presidential candidate John McCain, but the country music mogul says you'll never hear him criticize McCain's competition.

"Speak your mind about whatever you want to speak your mind about, Rich tells the National Ledger. "But never in a million years would I bash Barack Obama ... You don't bash people who have risen to that level of prominence in the United States. It's disrespectful."

Rich says it was the Dixie Chicks who displayed the ultimate example of such disrespect when they so famously bashed President Bush back in 2002. He says the trio's actions are likely what caused them to be shunned in the country music world.

Countless country artists today name Glen Campbell as one of their musical heroes. But there's one in particular with whom the admiration is mutual. When The Boot asked the legendary singer if there are any younger artists whom he sees as a kindred spirit, Campbell mentioned an old friend he's known for more than 30 years.

"Keith Urban -- what a talent," Campbell told us at his recent AOL Music Sessions taping. "When I first met him, he came to my concert in Australia. He was about 8 years old, and he said, 'Mr. Campbell, when I grow up I'm gonna play guitar and sing.' And look at him! He's a great songwriter, he's the best guitar player in the world probably, and he's married to one of the most beautiful women in the world ... and they just had a kid, that's fabulous!

Toby Keith says he's still unsure whether he'll vote for Senator John McCain or Senator Barack Obama in November's presidential election. But, never one to shy away from controversial statements, Keith told conservative radio talk show host Glenn Beck recently that one of the reasons for Obama's popularity is that he "acts ... Caucasian."

"I think also that black people would say that he don't talk, act or carry himself as a black person," Keith stated on the program, to which Beck replied, "What does that even mean?"

Kellie Pickler saw a lot more of her fans than ever before at last week's 68th annual Sturgis Rally in Sturgis, South Dakota. A lot more skin, that is.

The Rally, which features performances by a host of country and rock stars, also enjoys a reputation for rampant toplessness among women in the crowd. Kellie told Roanoke, Va., radio station WYYD she saw more than her share of flashed breasts.

"I lost count," said Pickler, who took the stage just before Kid Rock on Monday night. "When I went on ... it was dark, and I asked everybody if they were having a good time. Then the lights went on and panned the audience, and that's when I saw everyone for the first time. The first thing I saw was this naked girl sitting on someone's shoulders. I was like, 'Holy cow. We are not at a Brad Paisley show anymore!'"

On Tuesday, August 5, one day after a reported five million votes were cast to crown Melissa Lawson the newest 'Nashville Star,' the Texas native spent the entire day on a radio tour, promoting her hot new single, 'What If It All Goes Right,' which quickly became the No. 1 country single on iTunes. As she gears up for the release of the album she'll record with show judge John Rich producing, also on Lawson's agenda are a tour with her fellow 'Nashville Star' finalists, and this weekend's trip to Beijing, China, to perform at the opening ceremonies of the Olympics.

In a Q&A with EW.com, the 32-year-old mother of five dished on everything from the reality of reality TV to co-host Katie Cook's revealing wardrobe choice on the finale.In the champ's own words, here are a few of Lawson's thoughts on her 'Nashville Star' experience ...

John Rich is trying to convince voters that not all celebrities are liberals. An outspoken Republican, Rich told a Florida audience last week that he believes the Man in Black would be on his political side.

"Somebody's got to walk the line in the country. They've got to walk it unapologetically," Rich told the crowd before breaking into a cover of Cash's 'Walk the Line.' "And I'm sure Johnny Cash would have been a John McCain supporter if he was still around."

But the Washington Post reports that Cash was an outspoken supporter of Democrat Jimmy Carter. Cash was also known to support many Democratic causes.

Dolly Parton had more on her mind than just music at her recent concert in Los Angeles. Perhaps it was being in Tinseltown that made her speak up about two of the city's most famous train wrecks celebrities.

"Poor little Britney Spears and Lindsay Lohan," Parton told PEOPLE magazine outside the Greek Theater. "Ain't it awful? If those little girls slept with as many men as they say in the tabloids, why their little butts would have more fingerprints than the FBI!"

Part compassion, part admonition, Parton made her feelings known, continuing, "I kinda feel sorry for them. We should give those two a break."

Kellie Pickler's upcoming sophomore album boasts a co-write with her good buddy, Taylor Swift. The blond beauties became fast friends while on the road together last year for Brad Paisley's Bonfires & Amplifiers Tour. They spent a lot of their free time writing tunes together, and one particularly vengeful song made the cut for Pickler's new CD.

"I'm really crossing my fingers that it'll be a single, because it's the best song ever," Swift recently gushed to GAC.

"It most definitely probably will be," Pickler added. "And it's a song about her ex-boyfriend, 'cause that's the only kind of song I know how to write."

Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood are constantly asked by reporters and fans alike: When will you make an album of duets? The answer to that question depends on when the superstar couple is ready to hit the road again. They've decided they won't make an album together until they can go out on tour to support it. For now, they're concentrating on raising Brooks' three daughters.

"In ten years or so, we'll see if our children are on their own and doing great," Brooks told The Boot. "And then I'll see if Mrs. Yearwood isn't burned out and would like to go back out. I won't go back out without her, for sure. If we get a chance to go out and light it up one more time, then that would be a fantastic opportunity."

Jessica Simpson will grace the cover of the September issue of Elle, sporting a sexy cowgirl-ish ensemble. But it's what is inside the magazine that will get tongues wagging. The pop turned country star dishes on everything from her controversial career change to her sorted love life to a surprising memory of abuse.

"So many people want to bring me down, and I can't wait to prove them wrong," Simpson tells Elle. "If they believe what they read about me, they automatically persecute and torment me."

Often tormented in the press over her love life, Simpson says she is happier now than she's ever been. The 28-year-old has been dating Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo since November of last year.

"Most of the guys I dated were captivated by my heart, but they had different ways of trying to get to me," Simpson says of the single life before meeting Romo. "Tony understands me. He appreciates my talent. He's the first person I've spiritually connected with. I'm a girl that loves to be in love. I love love!"