As the U.S. presidential election draws to a close, country music star Carrie Underwood has come forward and admitted that she’s not a fan of those celebrities who felt the need to “publicly support” their chosen candidate.

Underwood said that she’s lost “all respect” for the celebs in question – Oprah Winfrey, Scarlett Johansson and Heidi Montag, to name a few – because she believes the American public shouldn’t be bullied into supporting a certain candidate just because the celebrities do.

“There is someone I do support, but I don’t support publicly,” Underwood explained to TV Guide. “I lose all respect for celebrities when they backa candidate.”

The American Idol winner continued: “It’s saying that the American public isn’t smart enough to make their own decisions.”

“I would never want anybody to vote for anything or anybody just because I told them to,” she added.

Well said! I’m not a fan of Underwood’s (though I did find her little tiff with fellow singer Jessica Simpson mildly amusing), but I think she definitely has a valid point. I understand the right to free speech and all, but there’s a fine line between supporting the candidate of your choice, and influencing your fans to follow your example.

Let’s not forget — celebrities are role models, and being a role model to so many is a very powerful thing.

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American Idol winner Carrie Underwood has drawn first blood in her bitter fight with country music rival, Jessica Simpson, dissing the busty blonde’s singing ability and her apparent weight gain.

A pal of Underwood’s told OK! magazine: “[Carrie] finds Jessica’s love of putting her life on display pretty desperate.”

When Underwood saw Jessica’s new cover story with People magazine – the one where she gushes about how Tony Romo (Carrie’s ex) is the love of her life – things got even cattier.

“[Underwood] laughed at the People cover,” the friend explained, “because it’s the same one Jess did about John Mayer [back when they were "in love"] – same smile, same look, except she’s a little fatter.”

Ouch! And that’s not all the Idol singer had to say about her bustier rival!

“Carrie doesn’t think fans will spend money to watch Jess warble through a few badly written songs,” Underwood’s pal added.

I’d tend to agree with that last part…

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This girl seems to have a thing for elite athletes!

Carrie Underwood,  the American Idol winner and former flame of Tony Romo, is now said to be dating Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps.

Rumour has it Underwood let slip to the media that she had “a little crush” on the swimmer, and when Phelps found out, he was so flattered that he contacted the singer to set up a date.

Apparently the new couple are planning “a quiet date” via text messages somewhere in Nashville, near Underwood’s home.

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The switch to country music may not be going so well for Jessica Simpson, after all.

Former pop diva Simpson was mistaken for country music rival Carrie Underwood last week, when a fan asked for an autograph outside a SoHo hotel on June 11.

An eyewitness revealed: “[The girl] said she was her number-one fan from back in the Idol days. Jessica simled politely and didn’t correct her [it was Underwood who was on Idol, not Simpson].”

“[Jessica] started to laugh when the girl asked how she was doing since her devastating split from Chace [Crawford, of Gossip Girls fame],” the source added.

Though she was polite enough to the girl, a pal told OK! magazine that Simpson was less than impressed that the fan had mistaken her for Carrie Underwood, her biggest rival and former partner of current beau, Tony Romo.

“She wasn’t pleased that the girl had no clue who she was!” the friend said.

I guess that means the unsuspecting fan dipped out on an autograph from her “favourite Idol star!”

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