Jessica Simpson is reportedly in talks with CMT to star in a new reality show. According to Entertainment Weekly, the starlet is mulling over an offer for an unscripted series, showcasing her new venture into country music.

"With 'Newlyweds,' she let everyone into her world," Simpson's father, Joe Simpson, told EW. "Then she she had to shut the world out. Now she can open it up again so people can see, here's a girl struggling with self-esteem and finding her way. Country music is about story-telling, after all."

Simpson is currently recording her country debut in Nashville. It will include a duet with Dolly Parton and a collaboration with Willie Nelson and Charley Pride. The first single is expected in April or May.

Simpson already has acting credits in a country music video. She makes a funny cameo in Willie Nelson's 'You Don't Think I'm Funny Anymore,' alongside Owen Wilson, Luke Wilson and Woody Harrelson. Watch the video premiere here.

NBC has tapped an eclectic group of musicians to star in a new reality-competition show, 'Clash of the Choirs.' Patti LaBelle, Nick Lachey, Blake Shelton, Kelly Rowland and Michael Bolton will try to create "America's greatest choir" on the live show, each of them picking 20 singers from their respective hometowns to join their team. LaBelle will return to her hometown of Philadelphia for auditions; Lachey will be going home to Cincinatti; Shelton will return to Oklahoma City; Rowland will audition in her native Houston; and Bolton will be going back to his hometown of New Haven, CT.

Cameras will follow the artists from the hometown auditions through the choir competition in New York. Viewers will be able to call in to vote for their favorite choir, and the winners will get to choose a prize that will benefit their city -- anything from renovating a school gym to building a community playground. 'Clash of the Choirs' is set to air live over four nights, December 17-20.

John Rich, the producing/singing/songwriting half of country duo Big & Rich, is inviting celebrities to get their twang on. Rich is set to host a new show on CMT called 'Gone Country,' which casts several non-country music celebrities competing for a career in country music.

The eclectic group of celebrities starring on the reality show will include rapper Bobby Brown, Latin pop crooner Julio Iglesias Jr., pop singer Carnie Wilson (Wilson Phillips), glam-rocker Dee Snider (Twisted Sister), 'American Idol' runner-up Diana DeGarmo, rapper/R&B star Sisqo and 'Marcia Brady' herself, Maureen McCormick. Those seven celebrities will not only try their hands at singing country music, but they'll also compete in various challenges to see whether they can handle a musician's lifestyle in Nashville. At the end of two weeks, the person who has proven themselves the most impressive as a country star will record and release a country song.

The six-episode series is set to premiere in January.

Jamie Foxx has signed on to appear with country powerhouse Rascal Flatts at the upcoming Country Music Association Awards. The Oscar-winning actor and R&B singer will duet with the group on 'She Goes All the Way,' a song he recorded with them for Rascal Flatts new album, 'Still Feels Good.'

The Foxx-Flatts friendship goes back more than a decade. Foxx and Rascal Flatts lead singer Gary LeVox were roommates in California back in the late '90s while LeVox was pursuing a music career. The two have remained friends ever since.

"Jamie is an incredible talent, and we were thrilled he took us up on our invitation to join us on the song," says LeVox. "He said he'd do it if we would sing on one of his records, so it's a pretty good swap."

Artist: Billy Ray Cyrus and Miley Cyrus
Song: 'Ready, Set, Don't Go'
Why You Should Listen: Hear the song that the adorable father-daughter duo sang on Tuesday's 'Dancing With the Stars.'

Faith Hill is defending the heated lecture she gave a fan who grabbed hubby Tim McGraw's crotch during a live concert in July. And she wasn't the only one furious about the incident.

"He was livid," the country star says of her hubby and tour-mate on Wednesday's episode of 'The Ellen DeGeneres Show.' "I mean, he was red and fuming."

Hill says her first instinct was to leave the incident be. But then, she says, the woman "gave me this look like there's nothing you can do."

So, the 'Mississippi Girl' in Hill just couldn't keep quiet. "What I really wanted to do is kick her you-know-what ... I mean, how disrespectful! And plus, it's like sexual harassment. I mean, if a man was to do that to a woman?"

George Strait and Brad Paisley lead the list of nominees for the 2007 Country Music Association Awards with five nominations each. The stars are both up for Top Male Vocalist, Album of the Year, Single of the Year and the coveted Entertainer of the Year Award. Kenny Chesney took home the Entertainer honors last year and is nominated again this year for the sixth year in a row, along with three other nominations.

Martina McBride and Alison Krauss lead the ladies with four nods each. Carrie Underwood, the reigning Top Female Vocalist, scored three nominations. She'll defend her title alongside fellow nominees McBride, Krauss, Miranda Lambert and Reba McEntire.

Dixie Chicks lead singer Natalie Maines is making the leap to the big-screen. The 32-year-old musician has signed on to star in the independent film, 'Stealing Cars.'

Maines doesn't have to look very far for acting lessons. She tells People magazine that her husband, 'Heros' star Adrian Pasdar, is her acting mentor. "He's a huge help and very supportive," she says. "He has given me advice on auditions in the past, but it still makes me nervous because I'm inexperienced when it comes to acting, and he's a professional."

'Stealing Cars' begins shooting in September. Maines will reportedly play a prison nurse. It's a role for which filmmaker Michael Skolnik sought out Maines after seeing her in the Dixie Chicks documentary, 'Shut Up and Sing.'

"It's my dream scenario to have a director who believes in me and thinks I can do it," says Maines. The 13-time Grammy winner says she has always wanted to act but hasn't had the time to dedicate to a movie shoot until now.

More Dixie Chicks on AOL Music:

• Dixie Chicks AOL Sessions live performance
• Dixie Chicks music videos
• Dixie Chicks photos

Artist: Brad Paisley
Song: 'Online'
Why You Should Watch: The celebrity cameos never stop in this hilarious video about a pizza delivery boy (Jason Alexander of 'Seinfeld' fame) who morphs into an online hunk. Bonus points for spotting a former Brady and Trekky.

Her debut album has only been in stores for a few weeks, but it looks like Kellie Pickler may soon add another career to her resume. The country star and former 'American Idol' contestant is in talks with Fox for her own sitcom.

"As pitched, she will play a Southern small-town girl, a character based on herself, who discovers that her biological father is the state's governor," says her publicist, Wes Vause. "In Kellie's style, she works her way into his life, and their father-and-daughter relationship ends up helping his political career."

Vause insists the pilot is in very early stages of development and if all goes well, taping will begin next year. When and if that happens, Pickler will be in familiar company: One of the show's executive producers is 'Idol' creator Simon Fuller. The show's writers include Chris Peterson and Bryan Moore from 'That '70s Show.'

Read our AIM Interview with Kellie.

Faith Hill must've seen the stink coming. Apparently, after her so-called "freakout" at the CMA Awards she immediately tracked down Carrie Underwood backstage to explain.

You've probably seen the footage by now. When Hill lost out to Underwood for Female Vocalist of the Year, she threw her arms in the air, mouthed "What?" into the cameras and then walked away. The reaction spawned a media frenzy, with most post-CMA news coverage focusing on whether that was Hill's true reaction or just a joke gone awry.

The very next day, Hill issued a statement saying, "The idea that I would act disrespectful towards a fellow musician is unimaginable to me. For this to become a focus of attention given the talent gathered is utterly ridiculous. Carrie is a talented and deserving Female Vocalist of the Year."

The newly-crowned Female Vocalist of the Year certainly believes in Hill's sincerity. "If I were sitting at home, I totally would have got the joke," she says. "She told me that night and wanted to set it straight right then and there and let me know that she was just kidding and it was just a joke gone bad . . . and she was really sorry for doing anything that might have seemed inappropriate."

In fact, the only thing that angered Underwood was the backlash against Hill. "Faith is such a sweet person that she shouldn't get dumped on for that," she says.

Now that everyone -- even Carrie -- is on Faith's side, perhaps this story will finally die.

Kellie Pickler has had plenty of dreams come true lately. The onetime 'American Idol' star says her recent move to Nashville is high on that list.

"It's Music City . Anyone who wants to be a country star, there's no better place to live than Nashville ," she tells AOL Music. "I came here last spring. My grandpa and I took a road trip up here, because ever since I was a little girl I dreamed of coming to Nashville . I loved it so much that I just decided to move here."

With a busy promotional schedule, she hasn't had much time to spend in her new hometown. But Pickler says the people have been great thus far: "Everybody here in Nashville has welcomed me with open arms. I just love the chemistry here and the fact that I'm surrounded by other artists, other people who want to be country singers," she says.

She got thrown into the proverbial fire recently when she played the legendary Grand Ole Opry. "A year ago October, I got in line for 'American Idol.' I never in a million years thought that I would have made it that far," she says. "It's life-changing... At night I have to sit and let it all absorb and make sure that it's actually a reality."

Former 'American Idol' contestant Kellie Pickler has appeared in the homes of 40 million Americans, toured with the show's finalists and is now set to release her debut album, 'Small Town Girl.'

But the plucky North Carolina native hasn't made it just yet. She says that day won't come until she gets to meet her own American Idol. "I'm the biggest Dolly Parton fan. I love all her songs," Pickler tells AOL Music. "I think she's the best songwriter, singer, performer. She's got the best personality, and she's done TV, film. I hope to be able to follow in her footsteps and to write and sing with her."

Does she also want to go into acting like her hero? "It's definitely something I'm interested in and something I'm going to try and pursue in the future," she says. In fact, she'd love to play Parton in a musical biopic.

"There's just something about Dolly," Pickler says. "When she walks out onstage, it's like that's when the show comes to life."

The Halloween release date for her album suits the singer just fine: It's her favorite holiday. In past years she has dressed as a bride, a pumpkin and a Barbie doll; last year she was Marilyn Monroe. Though she likely won't get to dress up this year due to her promotional schedule, she has an obvious idea for a future costume: "Maybe I'll dress up like Dolly Parton, assets and all."

Watch 'Red High Heels'

Sara Evans' husband is fighting back. Craig Schelske, the country star's spouse of 13 years, is denying all allegations in the divorce proceedings against him.

"Sara and our three children are the most important people in my life," Schelske wrote in an official statement released over the weekend. "I have made the decision to forgive Sara for the unfortunate campaign that she and her publicity advisors are currently waging. I adamantly deny the allegations that are being made."

Those allegations against Schelske include an alleged affair with their children's former nanny, as well as verbal abuse, possession of pornography and photographs of Schelske having sex with several different women.

Schelske, a former Republican candidate for U.S. Congress, further alleged in his statement that Evans is also to blame, saying, "As distressing as it is to have to communicate about this matter publicly, Sara has unfortunately become a dramatically different person over the last year and it is something we have struggled to deal with. Sadly, it appears we have failed. The best I can do at this difficult time is ask that people of faith would pray for her and for my family. My greatest concern is for my children and the irreparable harm they are at risk of facing. As such, I will have no further comment on this matter outside of a courtroom."

Evans was one of the final six celebrities on ABC's 'Dancing With the Stars' competition but has chosen to leave the show to help her children through this difficult time. Tomorrow night's episode will feature a special interview segment with Evans, as she bids farewell to the show.

Read the full story.

Country music singer Sara Evans has announced that she is filing for divorce and quitting 'Dancing With the Stars.' According to a representative at Sony BMG in Nashville, "recent events that shed light on the status of her marriage" were what prompted Evans to leave her husband, Craig Schelske.

According to court documents filed in Williamson County in Tennessee, Evans alleges that Schelske was verbally abusive and committed adultry. In addition, the filings state that he frequently watched pornography and possessed several photographs of himself having sex with other women.

The couple married in 1993 and have three children. Evans decided to quit 'Dancing With the Stars' to give her family her full attention. She was one of 11 celebrities paired with professional dancers on the popular television competition and had made it down to the final six.

Read the full story.