KELLIE PICKLER
Oct. 31
The sixth-place finisher may have lacked a bit in the smarts department, but her vocal skills were strong enough to win her a record deal. Small Town Girl looks to duplicate the success of that other blond small-town girl, Carrie Underwood, who's sold 3.2 million albums. To do so, Pickler's enlisted the help of producer Blake Chancey (Dixie Chicks). ''It's about growing up in a small town,'' says Joe Galante, chairman of Sony BMG Nashville. ''But it's also about falling in love and having a good time.'' Adds Pickler: ''The title of one single comes from my shoe obsession. I have these favorite red heels, so I created a girls' anthem around them.'' Sounds a lot like Pickler, simple but sweet.