Jessica Simpson Heads to Nashville, Lil Wayne Announces ?Carter III,? Natalie Portman

October 27, 2007, 01:28 AM

• Pop music is set to lose another of its starlets to country music. Jessica Simpson is leaving the not-so-friendly confines of Los Angeles and hunkering down in Nashville to start work on her next country-flavored album with John Rich of Big & Rich serving as writer. Previously, Kelly Clarkson NASCARed over to the red states to begin work on her own, Reba McEntire-backed country album.

• Actress Natalie Portman is a compiling a mix tape that will change your life on iTunes, with proceeds benefiting FINCA. The comp will feature exclusive tracks from Devendra Banhart, Beirut and, of course, The Shins.

• Like any artist in modern music, Lil Wayne is aware of album leaks. Going on the offensive, Lil Wayne will release Tha Carter III: The Leak on December 18th, which will feature Weezy’s tracks from mixtapes and the Internet. Then in February, Wayne will release the proper, still-unleaked Tha Carter III, which boasts appearances by Kanye West, Justin Timberlake and Timbaland.

• After volleys of album delays and shit-talking, the battle between Clipse and Jive Records has finally ended. But instead of going all Radiohead on us, Clipse will join forces with Columbia Records, who, under the watchful eye of Rick Rubin, will hopefully treat them better.

• AT&T’s Blue Room will stream (presumably unedited) performances from this weekend’s Vegoose Festival in Las Vegas. It’s a big music weekend: Voodoo Music Experience will take place in New Orleans and San Francisco hosts Neil Young’s annual Bridge School Benefit. Check back Monday for photos from all three events.