Kellie Pickler

Kellie Pickler earned a spot on the fifth season of American Idol in 2005. Although she ultimately placed sixth, the one-time waitress and Miss North Carolina contestant won over viewers across the country through her Southern twang and blonde ambition, which led directly to a recording deal with BNA Records. That agreement produced her first full-length project, Small Town Girl, in fall 2006, followed by a self-titled second album in 2008 whose standout track, the Top Ten hit “Best Days of Your Life” co-written with Taylor Swift, became Pickler’s initial major chart success. Her third effort, 100 Proof, arrived late in 2011 under the guidance of producer Frank Liddell. Despite earning favorable notices and solid early sales, the record failed to launch a major single, with “Tough” reaching only number 30 as its highest position. By summer 2012, Pickler and Sony Nashville publicly confirmed their separation.

The following year she joined the cast of Dancing with the Stars as a contestant and claimed the trophy alongside professional partner Derek Hough. She also confirmed plans for her fourth studio album, The Woman I Am, which Black River Entertainment issued in November 2013 after the lead singles “Someone Somewhere Tonight” and “Little Bit Gypsy” had already been released.