AP - Although Kellie Pickler’s first album garnered three hits, went gold and made the singer a certified country star, it wasn’t the debut that she would have crafted had she had her way.

"Small Town Girl," released in 2006, was put together in a hurry to capitalize on her sudden fame from being one of the finalists on "American Idol." Pickler was working on songs over the phone with Nashville co-writers while on an "Idol" tour and didn’t have much input on the CD’s direction.

"It was so rushed and, honestly, now that it’s out and I can be honest about it, there are songs on there I would never even cut," said the North Carolina native of the CD, which included the hit "Red High Heels."

She doesn’t have those concerns with her new self-titled sophomore effort — an album that is arguably the introduction to the real Kellie Pickler. The 22-year-old picked the producer, the songs, and even the cover art of the CD, released this week. She also co-wrote half the 10 tracks.

"It’s so good to finally say ‘Here I am! This is the real me, the real deal,’" said Pickler, who wore a dark T-shirt and capris while curled up on a couch with her shoes off in her record label office.

"The first time through she was learning to write, and it was tough to be working five days then doing a day of recording and leaving again," said Joe Galante, chairman of her label group, Sony BMG Nashville. "This time it was more intense involvement because she was able to really focus on her writing. And she has had the experience of being on the road and seeing what audiences react to. She had a plan in her head of the record she wanted to make." Read more...

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