Actress’s Daughter

By Mary Lyn Maiscott

I found Gwyneth Paltrow’s rendition of “Country Strong” (the theme from her upcoming movie of the same name) on the CMA awards a couple of months ago rather endearing. She was obviously nervous—despite, according to a quote in the press, having a Guinness beforehand, which she called her “new ritual”—which seemed, in a way, humble of her. I couldn’t help but wonder if it was a good idea for her to accompany herself on guitar (there was at least one other guitarist), but if she made any mistakes they weren’t audible, and her singing was just fine, if not spectacular in that big-voiced way of so many female country stars. (I didn’t think her magenta sky-high booties worked, but maybe that’s me.)

So in tribute to Paltrow’s upcoming role as Kelly Canter, apparently a kind of Faith Hill–meets–Britney Spears, here’s a sneak preview of what’s rumored to be (at least around TLR) Paltrow’s new country song, which is perhaps a bit closer to home for NYC’s “Gwynnie.”