HOT GALLERY: Singers Who Rocked a Crossover into Country!

Pop princess Jessica Simpson made a bold move in 2007 to keep her snug Daisy Dukes and cowboy boots on and prove her country worth. The Texas native decided to revisit her Southern roots and take a stab at a country music album. Simpson’s “Come On Over” leaked on the Internet in May 2008, debuting at No. 42 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. The single peaked at No. 18, but the album underperformed. While Simpson struggled to make the crossover successful, she surprised critics and knocked out a heel-clicking-good single to boot.

Rock legend Steven Tyler and country queen Carrie Underwood to sing a duet? No, you’re not crazy, you heard right. American Idol season 4 winner Underwood will be on Aerosmith’s new album Music from Another Dimension in a duet with Tyler. The Idol judge and alum winner shared the stage in 2011 at the CMAs and literally rocked it with their duet of Underwood’s “Undo It.” Harnessing the power of Carrie’s country appeal might not be so crazy after all.

With a hit like “Cowboy,” it’s no surprise this apple-picking Michigan native was destined for country greatness. After a three-year hiatus from rock 'n’ roll, Kid Rock made a comeback in 2007 with the country hit “All Summer Long.” Rock’s foray into country has been anything but disappointing, as “All Summer Long” (which sampled Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Sweet Home Alabama" and Warren Zevon’s “Werewolves of London”) was his first worldwide hit, catapulting his name, his album Rock N’ Roll Jesus, and his career back into stardom. Kid’s new stripped-down sound was continued on his 2010 hit single and album of the same name, Born Free. Here he is singing “Born Free” at the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Awards ceremony.

After worldwide success before 2000, it was only a matter of time before Sheryl Crow dipped her toes into country music. After her battle with cancer, Crow recorded her sixth studio album, Detours, at her farm in Nashville. Her seventh album, 100 Miles from Memphis, helped pave the way to her 2012 announcement that she would be recording a country album with Brad Paisley. To cement the announcement, Crow and Martina McBride sang a duet of Linda Ronstadt’s “You’re No Good” at the 2012 Stagecoach Festival, paying homage to the Southern girl who inspired them both. Their performance proves that Crow might totally rock her country crossover.

Hootie & the Blowfish does country? Not quite, but lead singer Darius Rucker dabbled in rock, successfully went solo in R&B, and then in 2008 released his Learn to Live country album. The album has three No. 1 singles and made Rucker the first African American to top the Hot Country Songs charts since Charley Pride in 1983. In 2009, he won the New Artist Award from the Country Music Association and continued his streak of success with a second country album, titled Charleston, SC 1966. The album gave way to more hit singles, and on December 4, 2011, it was confirmed that Rucker was working on a third country album and would tour with the country music trio Lady Antebellum in 2012. In this photo, country legend Willie Nelson leads an onstage super group to sing “Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die” at the 2012 CMT awards.

Another rocker turned country star is Aaron Lewis, lead singer of the group Staind. In 2010, Lewis released his first country music EP, Town Line, which was his bold move as a solo (country!) artist. Lewis has said that he was first introduced to country as a young boy by his grandfather but that touring with Kid Rock rekindled this interest. His hit single “Country Boy” features country legends George Jones and Charlie Daniels, as well as the popular country artist Chris Young. Lewis said in an interview that the move to country was aided by his acoustic guitar playing. Fans seem to agree, as this “country boy” was well received by the country world.

One of the most recent singers to get countrified is Lionel Richie. The Tuskegee, Alabama, native brought soul to his 2012 country album Tuskegee. With friends in high places (and the right places) like Kenny Chesney, Richie didn’t have to change too much of his tune to find inspiration for his hit album. Richie’s melting-pot background of musical influences helped bring a new sound to country on Tuskegee, which includes duets with country crooners like Kenny Rogers, Tim McGraw, Kenny Chesney, Willie Nelson, and Shania Twain… just to name a few! Seen here, Richie and Twain sing the country duet with edge, “Endless Love.”

American Idol alum and celebrity rocker Kelly Clarkson first attained worldwide success with her post-AI album Thankful, which was swiftly followed up by a string of other successful albums. Clarkson embraced a pop-rock image that ensured her a place in the rock star music world, but her recent collaboration with country star Jason Aldean on his album My Kinda Party surprised many. Their duet “Don’t You Wanna Stay,” which they performed at the 2010 and 2011 CMAs, got Clarkson her first No. 1 hit on the Hot Country Songs chart and the two a nomination for a 2012 Grammy for Best Country Duo/Group Performance. As surprising as it may seem, Clarkson’s career is actually managed by Reba McEntire’s husband, Narvel Blackstock, whose son is Clarkson’s real-life boyfriend! Clarkson proved she’s got more than a little country in her, and hopefully her 2013, and sixth, studio album will prove just as pleasantly surprising.