KELLY CLARKSON - CLARKSON GOES COUNTRY WITH REBA'S FIRM

CLARKSON GOES COUNTRY WITH REBA'S FIRM

Troubled pop star KELLY CLARKSON is getting serious about her plans to go country - she has signed a new management deal with pal REBA MCENTIRE's husband. Clarkson fired manager Jeff Kwatinetz last month (Jun07) following a controversy surrounding her new album, My December, which was leaked to the media. The singer was left trying to defend herself against allegations she had fallen out with music mogul Clive Davis and his label bosses over her songwriting skills and claims many experts were unimpressed with the tunes she recorded for the new album. Clarkson, who joined MCEntire for an episode of duets show Crossroads on country music cable channel CMT, will now join the flame-haired singer and Blake Shelton among the acts on Starstruck in Nashville, Tennessee. MCEntire's husband, Narvel Blackstock - the CEO of Starstruck, will serve as Clarkson's personal manager.