'Gossip Girl' Leighton Meester to Release Solo Album

Posted Thursday 23 April 10:24 AM By: Benjy Eisen

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'Gossip Girl' Leighton Meester to Release Solo Album

Benjy Eisen

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posted: 102 DAYS 22 HOURS AGO

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You know her as Blair Waldorf, star of the hit television show 'Gossip Girl,' but Leighton Meester may surprise even skeptics when she goes for it as a music artist this fall. That's when her debut will drop on Universal Republic Records. Citing a range of female artists, from M.I.A. to Gwen Stefani as influences, the 23-year-old actress says that she has had a "passion for music for as long as I can remember."

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Actors Who Rock

'Gossip Girl' star Leighton Meester is set to record an album in 2009.

Astrid Stawiarz, Getty Images

Actor JOAQUIN PHOENIX, who portrayed Johnny Cash in 'Walk the Line,' is reportedly recording a rap album. (Photo by E. Charbonneau, WireImage)

RYAN GOSLING, who holds a semi weekly deejay gig at L.A.'s Bardot, now has a band with best friend Zach Fields called Dead Man's Bones. The duo plan to release their debut album, 'Never Let a Lack of Talent Get You Down,' on their own label, Werewolf Heart.

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KIRSTEN DUNST, known for dating musicians, is now making some music of her own. The actress is writing a musical she's been working on for a few years.

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JESSICA BIEL recorded vocals for the soundtrack of her movie 'Easy Virtue'.

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BILLY BOB THORNTON, previously a member of Texas cover band Tres Hombres, has released three solo roots rock albums since 2001.

Robert Mora, Getty Images

KEVIN COSTNER has a six-piece rock group called the Kevin Costner Band.

Frederick M. Brown, Getty Images

STEVE MARTIN made a banjo record due out in spring of 2009. He recorded it in Nashville with Vince Gill, Dolly Parton and Earl Scruggs.

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Actress KIM KARDASHIAN told E! in Sept. 2008 that she'd "be down" to make an album "if it was something fun. I love music, so it would just have to be the right thing."

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'House' actor HUGH LAURIE also plays piano and calls himself a "frustrated musician." He has also composed and recorded numerous original songs.

Gregg DeGuire, WireImage

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Meester is currently recording tracks for the album in Los Angeles, and while we don't know who the producers are quite yet, you can safely assume they are all first-stringers from the A-list.

Early reports indicate that the tracks will be electro-pop oriented and may just establish a separate, credible identity for Meester independent of her 'Gossip Girl' status. Previously, Meester has only "other" musical credits including a duet with Tony Bennett from the television show 'Entourage,' and she also sang in the 2007 movie 'Drive Thru.' But with her calling her own shots on her own solo album, all gossip aside -- prepare for something totally different.

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Leighton Meester

Leighton Meester seen on location of the Gossip Girl on the streets of Manhattan on December 18, 2008 in New York City.

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Leighton Meester seen on location of the Gossip Girl on the streets of Manhattan on December 18, 2008 in New York City.

Soul Brother/FilmMagic.com

NEW YORK - DECEMBER 9: (ITALY OUT; NEWSDAY, NY DAILY NEWS OUT) Leighton Meester attends a taping of the television series "Gossip Girls" at Fifth Avenue and 104th Street December 9, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Arnaldo Magnani/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Leighton Meester

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