Check out Leighton Meester in these exclusive pics taken during at a recent stop on a promo tour for her film Country Strong in Los Angeles.

The 24-year-old actress paired her Derek Lam dress with Miu Miu shoes.

Leighton took time to fill JustJared.com in on her experience filming Country Strong in Nashville, the possibility of recording country music one day, and her Christmas plans!

Click inside for Just Jared’s exclusive interview with LM…

JJ: I’m mad at Faith Hill for stealing your gorgeous duet with Garrett Hedlund (”Give In to Me”) on the Country Strong soundtrack.
LM: (Laughs) I’m sure that they will release the duet as well at some point. The soundtrack is beautiful, I have it on repeat.

JJ: What was it like filming the movie?
LM: It was really fun, really different and an amazing experience.

JJ: Did you seek out a musical?
LM: No, I mean I initially I fell in love with the character, the script, and the way Shana (Feste) writes human relationships and interaction. I loved the character and I felt like I wanted to do her justice, then on top of it Gwyneth Paltrow being involved with it was a huge draw for me. Then came the music, and I thought that that was a wonderful part of it because the music’s beautiful and it’s also part of the story. It narrates a lot of the film.

JJ: And you got to dabble in a different genre of music.
LM: Yeah, that I’ve never done. It was a completely different world. Nashville is an entirely different world. The way people make music is very inspiring to be there and work there.

JJ: Did you get to enjoy Nashville a little bit while filming?
LM: Yeah, I was filming [Gossip Girl] in New York at the same time so I went back and forth. On the weekends I’d be shooting in Nashville. Everyone was saying, “Let’s go out, lets do something” but I would have to catch a plane or go to sleep to stay sane. I did get to go out a couple times, during rehearsal process Shana took me to a couple honky-tonks and we watched some live performances there. [My] character goes through an arc with her performances, she starts off not very confident, and she starts to come into her own and be able to perform. We saw people performing in a honkey-tonk, shooting whiskey on stage, and jumping up on the bar, just completely different and Shana said “watch”. We later went to the Ryman and saw Carrie Underwood and Martina McBride performing and they were these huge stars owning the stage, so that was the arc of Chiles’ performance. She starts off unable to utter a note and then she eventually can perform for an arena.

JJ: A big part of the film is based on drug addiction, specifically pills, something that’s very real in Hollywood how do you stay away from that?
LM: For me it’s not hard to stay away from it. I think a huge part of what this film’s underline theme is, is “can you have love and success, or do you have to choose?” In my eyes I don’t think you do. I haven’t had to question that. I’ve just been working and not bothering with wondering if I need to choose. I love love and I think eventually I would like to have some, I welcome it. I think the main problem with somebody who would have so many issues is that they don’t have love in their life, and I feel like working to me is important. I want to make my family proud and I love my family. That’s what gives me the strength to do it. I think that part of not having love, you kind of fulfill that with drugs or alcohol or any kind of addictive or abusive substance or relationship, and it will ruin you. I guess that the lesson is just “don’t do drugs, just say no.”

Read the Rest of the Interview Here . . . .

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Public Apperances > Events from 2010 > December 19 – Just Jared “Country Strong” Interview

The video for Leighton Meester’s song “Summer Girl” from her upcoming film Country Strong has premiered.

The song was originally recorded by country singer Jessica Andrews in 2005.

In the film, Leighton plays Chiles Stanton, who is an aspiring Dallas beauty queen turned country singer.

Country Strong opens in limited release on December 22nd and in theaters everywhere on January 7th!

Watch the video below…

Source

Leighton and the rest of the cast of Country Strong made an appearance on last night’s episode of Entertainment Tonight. I want to thank Brianne for sending the video in. The video will be available to see in a bit. Enjoy the caps of her appearance!

Gallery Link
Screen Captures > 2010 > December 13 – Entertainment Tonight

I’m trying to get caught up on all updates and I figured I’d start with the gallery. I just added photos of Leighton at the latest event she attended and Leighton at the press conference for her new film Country Strong! Enjoy!

Gallery Links
Public Apperances > Events from 2010 > Dior Celebrates The Reopening Of Its 57th Street Boutique
Studio Photoshoots > Press Conferences > “Country Strong”

The Nashville premiere for Tim McGraw and Gwyneth Paltrow’s new movie Country Strong promises to be a star-studded affair. Both actors will be on hand to walk the red carpet at the Regal Green Hills Cinema in Music City this Monday, November 8th, along with co-star Leighton Meester and producer Tobey Maguire
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The movie starts at 7 p.m., so those hoping to catch a glimpse of their favorite stars walking the red carpet might want to show up around 5. This film viewing is not open to the public; however, Country Strong does open in Nashville on Dec. 22 (nationwide on Jan. 7).

(Source)