Jessica Simpson can say a big "I told you so" to her naysayers today. The pop star turned country songbird has set a record as the highest charting debut solo artist in the history of Billboard's country singles chart. Simpson's first-ever country single, 'Come On Over,' made its debut at No. 41. The previous record was held by Miranda Lambert and Brad Cotter, whose debut country singles both started at No. 42 on the charts.

"I got chills and butterflies in my stomach," Simpson says of hearing her song on country radio. "It felt like the first time I heard myself on the radio when I was 19. Country is where my heart is. It's refreshing to share something that feels so close to home. I am so honored to become a part of the country community."

Americans may not be allowed to travel to Cuba, but British 2-step star Craig David absorbed the socialist country's rich culture while he recorded his latest album 'Trust Me.' The country's rhythm and dance served up fresh ideas in terms of the production, the lyrics and music.

"When you're put in a certain place like Cuba, it's so raw and it's so much about capturing the moment rather than thinking about it too much," David tells AOL Music. "I think culturally it was an amazing experience. But musically, you just couldn't help with being inundated with all incredible people around you. You'd walk the streets, take a Kodak camera and take pictures of things, and everything would turn out beautifully. It just has that feeling about it. It definitely had an effect on the record."

For 'Trust Me,' David recorded with producer Martin Terefe (KT Tunstall, James Morrison) who suggested that David up the ante a bit. David recalled Terefe telling him that his records lacked spontaneity and a live feel. He traded in perfection for performance.

When Jason Mraz saw the words "We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things," in artist David Shrigley's drawing of the same name, it moved him. So much so, he decided to name his forthcoming album after it, irritating journalists everywhere by switching out the commas for periods.

"The day that I read it, I knew it was a great album title," Mraz tells PopEater. "When I was finishing working on this album, it kept coming back into my head."

So he e-mailed the Scottish artist and asked permission to use as the title 'We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things.' The artist said yes -- and offered more.

"He's actually done all the doodles for the artwork," Mraz says. "A new relationship formed out of that."

Mraz, who is releasing three EPs before the album hits stores May 13, is thrilled because the title accurately reflects the music found in his latest effort.

"It's an album of sing-alongs and danceable grooves," he explains. "It's very human and very musical as well. It's got a rhythm built into the title. It's inspiring also in a way that people will want to be mischievous and bring back civil disobedience, and make positive change and all that good stuff."

Gwen Stefani took to No Doubt's official message board over the weekend to thank fans for supporting her during her recent dance-inflected solo efforts and reveal that she has returned to the studio with bandmates Tom Dumont, Adrian Young and Tony Kanal. The group's last proper album, 'Rock Steady', was released in December 2001.

"Hey No Doubters," Stefani announced. "Been thinking so much about you all lately as I am back in the studio again with the boys trying to write some new music. What an amazing few years it has been -- so inspired going through the dance record phase of my life. Thank you so much for all your support! The tour was incredible. We ended up doing over 100 shows around the world and it was so rewarding and again inspiring. Thank you to everyone who came out to see it ... memories for life! Great to be home with all my boys."

Stefani, who is married to former Bush frontman Gavin Rossdale, is in the midst of her second pregnancy. "Feels crazy to be pregnant all over again," she explained. "We have been spending every day up in the little studio in our house trying to write music. My favorite part so far is just seeing the boys everyday and hanging out. We have so much fun together. The song-writing part is a bit slow on my part. I think, it has something to do with the baby in my belly, but I'm sure it is all of the process and I really believe this could be the most inspired No Doubt record so far. Can't wait to see what happens. All my love."

Artist: Gavin Rossdale
Album: 'Wanderlust'
Why You Should Watch: Keeping busy as a family man and having dabbled in movies, the former Bush frontman returns with his first solo disc, due June 3. Hear clips of the catchy rock ballads in this suspenseful, beautifully-shot teaser.

Colbie Caillat has a new friend and new fan in Taylor Swift. The two have written and recorded a song together for Swift's upcoming sophomore album.

"Colbie Caillat is No. 1 on my 'Cool People List,'" Swift tells Dial-Global. "She's got this amazing album that I've fallen in love with, and I got the great opportunity to write a song with her. I've got this awesome tape of us both singing it, and I'm playing guitar and she starts singing these backup vocals and I'm like, 'Oh my God, she's got the best voice ever.' And so that's a really cool thing that I'm very excited about on this album."

Swift has also written a song with her good friend Kellie Pickler that will appear on Pickler's sophomore album. Swift's new album is due in late '08.

Artist: Clay Aiken
Album: 'On My Way Here'
Why You Should Watch: Claymates, rejoice! Your favorite 'Idol' is back with a new album on May 6. Until then, check out this exclusive clip in which the newly-blond singer discusses his collaboration with Grammy-winning producer Kipper (who has previously worked with Sting and Mary J. Blige, among others).

Paula Abdul is working on her first new album in more than 13 years. The 'American Idol' judge is revisiting her pop-star past, returning to the studio with a horde of producers to record new music and to re-record a number of her smash hits from the '80s.

"It was really nice being able to have no one expecting anything," she told Rolling Stone about the process of recording incognito. "No one knew that this was coming, it just kind of crept up from behind, and it was nice not having to feel the pressure of a time constraint."

Although Abdul maintains that the album is still in its preliminary stages, the first single is expected in early June. She has already given fans a taste of her musical comeback with the song, 'Dance Like There's No Tomorrow,' which premiered during the Super Bowl pre-show.

Despite her chronic pain condition, Abdul is not dismissing the idea of a tour to support the new album. She'll be reaching into the dark corners of her closet for her dance shoes as she announces plans to not only assist with the show's staging and visual aspects, but with choreography as well.

"I'm very particular about how I want to approach touring," she said. "I want to do something that's very different and that really kind of embraces all that I do."

'American Idol' judge and famed producer Randy Jackson has revealed a who's-who list of names on his upcoming compilation album. 'Music Club, Volume 1' features vocals by artists from almost every genre, including Mariah Carey, Three 6 Mafia, Joss Stone, Anthony Hamilton, Travis Tritt and Elliot Yamin.

The album also marks the musical comeback of fellow 'Idol' judge Paula Abdul. She stakes claim to the compilation's first single, 'Dance Like There's No Tomorrow.' Jackson and Abdul will perform the song together on the Super Bowl pregame show on February 3.

'Music Club, Volume 1' is set for release March 11. See its full track listing after the jump.

Earlier this week, 'One Tree Hill' introduced the character of Mia, a shy singer-songwriter signed to a record contract by Hilarie Burton's Peyton Sawyer. As the girl behind Mia, Cleveland-based singer-songwriter Kate Voegele tells Popeater, there is a lot of Mia she could empathize with. "The show has this whole element of art imitating life and I think it's totally true," Voegele says. "When I was 15, I was terrified and I didn't think that I had any shot at being a singer-songwriter. I was like, 'Oh my god, everyone's gonna think I'm weird that I play guitar and write music.' And that's totally how Mia starts out. She's just really shy and quiet, and she just sort of evolves slowly. I had to kind of tap into that and remember what it was like to be that girl."

Now 21, and having opened for the likes of John Mayer and Counting Crows, Voegele -- whose debut album, 'Don't Look Away,' is out now -- admits to being past the point of nerves. "Nothing really makes me super nervous or intimidated," she says. "I pretty much go into everything like, 'Here I am. If this works out, cool. If it doesn't, then fine.'"

"It's actually just the name of a bar in London I really like," Ryan Cabrera revealed to PopEater about his new album's title this morning over Cinnabons. He says 'Moon Under Water,' which, much like his new, emo-meets-goth look, will surprise his fans.

"So many things have changed in my life," he wrote on his MySpace page while writing the songs for 'Moon,' "and the music is heading along with it." And Cabrera is literally wearing that change, from head to toe. The singer-songwriter showed up to our visit looking much like, well ... his ex-girlfriend's new boyfriend (i.e. Ashlee Simpson's Pete Wentz).

In purple skinny jeans, his newly-black hair in a pony tail and covered with a hat, Cabrera was gracious and forthcoming about the songs on his new CD. "You guys are the first people I've played the new album to," Cabrera, who paid for the entire project himself, told PopEater. And after four songs, we can confirm that the songs are, indeed, a departure from his previous two albums -- for one thing, Cabrera trades his acoustic guitar for the electric.

Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood were catapulted to super-stardom by 'American Idol.' Season three winner Fantasia Barrino brought tourists to New York in droves for her turn in the Oprah-backed Broadway adaptation of 'The Color Purple.' Even finalists Elliot Yamin and Chris Daughtry have enjoyed major chart success following their 'Idol' experience. However, winning the hit reality series competition is no longer a guarantee for success. Season five winner Taylor Hicks and season two winner Ruben Studdard have both been dropped from their record labels.

After recording three albums with J Records, Studdard's most recent release, 'The Return,' saw only marginal sales. The label decided to end their relationship with the gospel/R&B singer from Alabama. Taylor Hicks, who released his self-titled album with the company has also been dropped and plans to release his next album on his own.

Sheryl Crow has revealed the cover art for her forthcoming sixth album, 'Detours.' The effort, produced by Brian Bottrell, who worked with Crow on her smash debut, 'Tuesday Night Music Club,' is due on February 5.

"I'm am really excited about my record and I can't wait for everyone to hear it," the nine-time Grammy-winning singer-songwriter wrote on her Web site. "I hope that it will incite inspiration for change."

Daughtry's eponymous debut album has been crowned the best-selling CD of 2007. The band, lead by 'American Idol' alum Chris Daughtry, sold 3.2 million copies this year. Coming in at No. 2 is Akon's 'Konvicted,' which sold 2.7 million. Miley Cyrus is the best-selling female act this year, as the 'Hannah Montana' soundtrack racked up 2.5 million in sales. Rounding out the top five are Fergie's 'The Dutchess' with 2.4 million sold and Carrie Underwood's first album, 'Some Hearts,' with 2.3 million sold. Underwood was the best-selling artist of 2006 with that same album. Her new CD, 'Carnival Ride,' has already sold more than two million copies.

Billboard reports that Beyonce's 'Irreplaceable' is the No. 1 single of 2007, followed by Rihanna's 'Umbrella,' Gwen Stefani's 'The Sweet Escape,' Fergie's 'Big Girls Don't Cry' and T-Pain's 'Buy U A Drank (Shawty Snappin')'.

The Police have bragging rights to the top-grossing tour of the year, raking in a cool $212 million. Another reunion tour takes the No. 2 spot, as Genesis grossed $129 million. Justin Timberlake, Kenny Chesney and Rod Stewart round out the top five best-selling tours of the year.

Sheryl Crow gave PopEater an exclusive in-studio look at the making of her forthcoming studio album, 'Detours,' due February 5. Find out how Crow's take on the music is different this time 'round and see her in action.