Gwyneth Paltrow and Tim McGraw, co-stars of the upcoming Country Strong movie, also have cut a duet for the film’s soundtrack.

The song, “Me and Tennessee,” was written by Gwyneth’s rocker husband, Chris Martin, of British band Coldplay. It’s one of several interesting cuts on the soundtrack album, coming out Oct. 26.

The soundtrack also contains Ronnie Dunn’s first post-Brooks & Dunn cut, a cover of Gary Stewart’s 1975 hit “She’s Actin’ Single (I’m Drinkin’ Doubles),” which Ronnie produced himself.

Fans of Leighton Meester, star of WB’s Gossip Girl and also Country Strong, know she’s also a part-time pop singer, and she has a song on the soundtrack as well.

And you know Hillary Scott as one-third of Lady Antebellum, but she’s also a songwriter. Hillary co-wrote a soundtrack song, “A Little Bit Stronger,” that was cut by Sara Evans.

The movie opens Dec. 22 in L.A. and Nashville, and Jan. 7 everywhere else.

Source: Country Weekly

Cosmo caught up with the A-list actress and hair of Herbal Essences to talk co-stars, cosmetic surgery, hot hairstyles and the beauty requirements of a Hollywood hottie.

Dressed in a luscious leather mini with leg-lengthening shoeboots, Leighton Meester nailed the London look when she jetted to our capital in her role as global ambassador for Herbal Essences. It was only a matter of time before the picture-perfect Gossip Girl was snapped up by a big brand and we couldn’t wait to know her beauty ethos, inspiration and top tips…

Which celebrity’s beauty style would you most like to steal?

I really admire Drew Barrymore – she can go from different colours and cuts for her hair and just looks completely different all the time.

What’s the first hairstyle you ever wanted to copy?

It’s funny that you should ask because my hair today is like my mum’s when I was growing up. She had brown permed hair – I always thought it was very glamorous. But I always wanted red hair and I’ve tried different shades of red. It’s tough to maintain but it’s a very fun colour.

If you weren’t a brunette what colour would you be

I think it has a lot to do with your personality. When I’m a blonde I feel like a blonde, when I have red hair I feel more fiery. I think brunette matches my personality the most, I’m pretty laid back, like low maintenance and it’s probably the lowest maintenance colour for me.

Is brunette your natural colour?

My hair is a dark blonde – when I go in the sun it brightens up a lot.

Which celebrity would you most like to give a makeover?

I think there’s appeal in a natural look like Kate Winslet’s. She’s beautiful, wears natural makeup, and even when she’s glammed up she still looks herself. I don’t really want to name names as that’s not really nice, but I do notice sometimes people overdo it and a lot of the time it’s a beautiful women and I’d like to see a fresher version of her.

Out of all the actresses you’ve worked with whose beauty look do you love the most?

Gwyneth Paltrow – she’s got incredible style and impeccable taste. She’s a natural, beautiful, very young-skinned, young looking woman.

In your forthcoming film Country Song with Gwyneth Paltrow you play a beauty queen turned singer. What’s your view on beauty contests?

[It's] a lifestyle that I don’t get at all – it’s nothing like what I do! I would never just stand there and look pretty, but that’s part of a culture that my character came from and its part of her personality – it doesn’t make her not smart or not deep and then she actually ends with a lot of depth.

Do you feel under pressure to look your best and stay a certain weight?

I’ve become more aware, especially in the last few years of this extreme judgement of women and their weight and how they look from the outside all the time. And I think people don’t focus on what they should be which is beautiful on the inside and I think that shows through. Judging someone based on their weight is not good. Personally I’m a healthy person and the weight that I am fluctuates like anyone else. I’m a real person. I don’t really feel pressure but I can understand where it comes from.

Would you ever consider surgery to enhance your youth?

I haven’t gotten there yet. I’ll let you know in 15 years or so!

What do you see as your best feature and what you do to accentuate it?

I wear heels a lot. Not only does it make you look more confident and walk with bit of a strut (plus I’m obsessed with shoes), it makes your legs look long and forces you to feel confident even if your legs aren’t your best feature – wear heels and they become your best feature! It’s about playing up not just your best asset but loving what isn’t perfect.

What’s your biggest beauty crime?

I used to get my eyebrows waxed a little too thin – not even really intentionally you just get a little bit obsessed!

What’s an easy up ‘do that you can do on yourself?

I do French braids all the time in my hair  – when I exercise a lot but somehow afterwards it falls in all the right places and looks like you intentionally did it! I’m not really sure how to do it on other people, but I can figure it out on myself!

Do you still do your own hair and makeup on a daily basis?

I’m out of practice because I always have professionals doing it so whenever I do it myself I’m like ‘this doesn’t look right!’ so I very rarely do my own hair – but a lot of the time I’ll let it be from the day before and it looks good. As for makeup I’m pretty minimal – I use a bright lipstick so it looks like you put the effort in, curl my eyelashes and a little bit of blush.

Do you ever fake your tan?

What tan?! I don’t, I tried it a couple of times but it just doesn’t work for me. I’ve just started embracing how my skin is naturally – if my skin soaks up a little sun great, if it doesn’t then I like the way I look fair as well.

Do you have any tattoos or body piercings?

I have a tattoo on my wrist of a flower and my ears pierced. I’ve had my belly button and other weird ear piercings but I really like not having piercings now.

Source: Cosmopolitan UK

I have uploaded new screen captures of Leighton in Gossip Girl 4×03 The Undergraduates to the gallery.

GALLERY LINK:

• (x197) Gossip Girl: Season 4: Screen Captures > 4×03 The Undergraduates

I’ve added two new upcoming preview of Leighton in ‘Gossip Girl’ “Touch of Eva” episode.

The three actresses have worked with the last joint campaign BVLGARI.

One ring to rule them all … and another to bring the film’s most beautiful faces. BVLGARI The new proposal moves away from the alliance traditional, nor is the protagonist of a fantasy book series, the latest project of the luxury Italian jewelry house, designed in silver inlay and a tiny ceramic interior, is made from hand to hand with the humanitarian organization Save the Children, and aims to raise, from October, more than 6 million euros ‘committed’ to improve the quality of education for the world’s neediest children.

And to underscore the importance of the cause, no less than some of the best known faces of the film, which have been subject to the orders of renowned photographer Fabrizio Ferri to donate their image as solidarity campaign, celebrities like the Gossip Girl Leighton Meester, the eternal Italian beauty Isabella Rossellini, the only Spanish or project, the actress Maribel Verdu, who have not hesitated to ‘give away’ his face BVLGARI, all in black, wearing the new ring on their hands against a background of intense color red, and each reflecting their unique personality, captured by the camera.

BVLGARI help draft well, and during 2010 and throughout 2011, key programs for training teachers in the world, as well as important program Healing and Education Through Art (HEART), which focuses on education and therapy for children through art, and helps those who can not find the words to explain what has happened to express themselves creatively.

Source: Hola

I’ve added new event photos of Leighton Meester at the exclusive ‘Gossip Girl’ Set Visit on September 23, 2010.

GALLERY LINK:

• (x013) Events In 2010: Gossip Girl Set Visit – September 23

I have uploaded new promotional stills of Leighton in Gossip Girl 4×05 ‘Goodbye, Columbia‘ to the gallery.

An anonymous Gossip Girl blast starts a very damaging rumor about one of Columbia’s new students, Serena (Blake Lively). On her path to greatness, Blair (Leighton Meester) decides to take a class with a powerful businesswoman, Martha (guest star Marilyne Barrett), who is guest-lecturing at Columbia, but a mysterious fellow student thwarts her plans to secure the prized position as Martha’s assistant. Penn Badgley, Chace Crawford, Ed Westwick, Jessica Szohr, Kelly Rutherford and Matthew Settle also star. Jeremiah Chechik directed the episode written by Robby Hull.

GALLERY LINK:

• (x005) Gossip Girl: Season 4: Stills > 4×05 Goodbye, Columbia

I’ve added new high quality filming photos of Leighton Meester onlocation of ‘Gossip Girl’ Season 4 on September 23, 2010.

GALLERY LINK:

• (x028) Gossip Girl: Season 4 > Filming: Filming – September 23. 2010

I have uploaded screen captures of Leighton Meester in Gossip Girl, 4×02 ‘Double Identity‘.

GALLERY LINK:

• (x218) Gossip Girl: Season 4: Screen Captures > 4×02 Double Identity

I’ve added new ‘Gossip Girl’ promotional tv stills of Leighton Meester in ’4×04 A Touch Of Eva’ to the gallery.

GALLERY LINK:

• (x006) Gossip Girl: Season 4: Stills > 4×04 A Touch Of Eva