Kellie Pickler
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It's been a difficult year for Kellie Pickler.

The former American Idol finalist says she's struggled with depression and suffered severe reactions to anti-depressant pills after dealing with family problems and a breakup from her boyfriend, hockey player Jordin Tootoo.

"Everything in my professional life seemed great," Pickler told People Magazine. "But in my personal life, I was just crumbling."

Now?

Picker's friendships with Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood, along with a new love – Nashville songwriter Kyle Jacobs – and writing songs for her new album have helped her find happiness once more.

"He makes me feel so good about being me," she said of Jacobs.

We couldn't be happier to hear that.

In a recent interview with celebrity gossip tabloid OK!, Kellie Pickler was asked about two things close to her heart:

1. Make up
2. Men

As for the first issue and how she typically gets ready for a photo shoot, the former American Idol finalist said:

"Well, I have a team of highly-trained professionals that get me ready because I can’t do it on my own," the singer said. "When I’m out on tour, I usually just do it myself but for TV and photo shoots I usually have people that help get me ready because it’s so stressful anyways."

For for men, Pickler is currently - and quietly - dating Nashville musician Kyle Jacobs. The couple keeps it casual when she's home from tour, chilling on the sofa instead of hit up wild night clubs and fancy restaurants.

"When I come in off the road, I like to crash and be a bum and sit at home on the couch and just talk," said Kellie. "We don’t really have to be doing anything. We usually just enjoy each other’s company and make each other laugh."

Kellie Pickler's second album will hit stores on September 30.

“I’m so excited and proud of the new album,” said Pickler. “The material on the new album is part small town girl, but also a reflection of the experiences I’ve had over the last two years. I’ve matured, some, seen a lot more of the world, and naming the album Kellie Pickler says, ‘this album is me, this is who I am and where I am.’”

Pickler is off to a good start with the single “Don’t You Know You’re Beautiful.” Listen to it now

Kellie Pickler is set to team up with country superstar for a song on the former's latest album.

It will be called“Best Days Of Your Life" and is reportedly geared toward getting back at an ex who wronged them. Pickler had a funny, spot-on quote about the tune:

"You have to be careful when you date a songwriter. We always get the last word!”

You've been warned, fellas.

Kellie Pickler and Taylor Swift: a winning, beautiful combination!

Kellie Pickler has the following message for this season's American Idol finalists:

“Going through that whole process and literally overnight you’re on 30-40 million television sets ever week — it’s not necessarily you that changes but it’s the people around you that change,” Pickler told People magazine.

Her advice to this season's top 24?

“Stay away from mean people! Of course that’s with any profession,” she said, noting that it’s important to “surround yourself with people that support you and pray for you.”

Since her success on American Idol, Pickler added that she has “ lost so many people. No one that I was close with before am I even remotely close to now. I have maybe three people in my life now that have been amazing through the whole process.”

Meanwhile, Pickler was “honored” to have been a bridesmaid at Katharine's McPhee’s recent wedding to producer Nick Cokas.

“Kat and I were roommates (on Idol) and built a bond that I was not able to build with anyone else on the show,” said Pickler. “She instantly became like a big sister to me and Nick became like a big brother. I’m so blessed to have them in my life.”

Kellie Pickler didn't exactly represent American Idol too well during her appearance on Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader recently?

The singer wasn't sure whether or not France was a country and, well, just take a look for yourself...

While Carrie Underwood was winning awards last night, Kellie Pickler was fighting back tears.

The American Idol finalist broke down crying during the CMA while performing "I Wonder," a song about her estranged mother, who abandoned her when she was a toddler.

"Oh, I hear the weather's nice in California," Pickler sang at the end of the song, as the tears began to fall down her cheeks. "And just in case you're wondering about me/ From now on I won't be in Carolina/ Your little girl is off to Tennessee."

Pickler's mother, Cynthia Malone, has said that she was forced to leave her child because of an abusive relationship with her then-husband.

Kellie struggled to finish the song and spoke the final word, "Tennessee," as the Nashville crowd rose in applause to support her.

Shame on you, Jordin Tootoo.

It's rather evident that this hockey player ended his relationship with Kellie Pickler in the most immoral of ways: by cheating on the beautiful American Idol star.

How can we be so sure? Well, at a September 22 show in Michigan, concert goers say that Pickler announced that her new theme song is Carrie Underwood’s Before He Cheats... and then added that she hoped Tootoo’s teeth would be knocked out during a hockey game.

Despite her jokes, though, fans thought Pickler was in pain over the end of her 8-month-long relationship with Tootoo; she cried while singing Didn’t You Know How Much I Loved You.

Keep your chin up, Kellie! He didn't deserve you anyway.

Here's a great stocking stuffer:

On October 2, a high-profile country Christmas anthology comes entitled Hear Something Country Christmas.

It will feature Carrie Underwood singing Do You Hear What I Hear and Kellie Pickler singing Santa Baby.

American Idol is more than just a little bit country.

Three past finalists were nominated for Country Music Awards last week, with Carrie Underwood leading the way.

The season four champion was nominated for Female Vocalist of the Year, as well as Single of the Year and Music Video of the Year for "Before He Cheats." Moreover, "Before He Cheats" is up for Song of the Year.

This is the second year in a row Underwood has received multiple CMA nominations. Last year, "Jesus Take the Wheel" was nominated for Music Video of the Year and Single of the Year, but failed to win either award. This talent did take home Female Vocalist of the Year honors as well as the Horizon Award, given to up-and-coming country stars.

Kellie Pickler, meanwhile, will have a chance to be the second former Idol finalist in a row to win the Horizon Award, as the fifth-season fifth-place finisher was nominated for it this year.

Lastly, Kely Clarkson was also nominated for a 2007 CMA. Her duet of "Because of You" with friend Reba McIntyre was nominated for Musical Event of the Year.