Country stars reveal their New Year's resolutions

The Associated Press, Wednesday, December 28, 2011, 6:43am (PST)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Like the rest of us, celebrities are thinking about their goals for next year.

Taylor Swift is looking to change things up.

"I think my goal for the next couple of years would be to make departures in little ways and do things a little differently," said the Grammy-winning singer, "and try to maintain a balance between always providing your fans with what they've always liked from you and continuing to write all my own songs, but I'd love to make collaborations in different directions that aren't exactly expected."

The three members of country group Lady Antebellum are resolving to find balance in their personal and professional lives. It will be more of a challenge than ever with their first headlining tour resuming in January and two weddings to plan. Dave Haywood proposed to girlfriend Kelli Cashiola, 29, by hanging Christmas lights on her house that spelled out "Will You Marry Me?" Singer Hillary Scott got engaged in July and is planning to marry fiance Chris Tyrell in the spring. Singer Charles Kelley is already married.

"Next year we've got a pretty heavy touring schedule, but we've learned this fall how to balance that, how to have a good time at home," said Haywood. "All of us are good and cognizant about having our loved ones out with us when we can and being able to get home when we can. So I think continuing to find the balance, which is where we get our inspiration and where our songs come from, is this personal life."

Miranda Lambert wants to focus on songwriting. Her Grammy-winning hit "The House That Built Me" was a game-changer in her career. The problem? She didn't write it.

"I'd love to actually write a song that was nominated for song of the year. That would be a huge thing to me," said Lambert, who is kicking off her "On Fire" tour Jan. 12 in Rockford, Ill. "Eventually over the next five years I'd maybe like to win entertainer of the year — when I've earned it."

The resolutions Lambert's husband, Blake Shelton, is making have nothing to do with self-improvement. He has high hopes for other people in his life, including two of the singers he mentored as a judge on NBC's "The Voice," Dia Frampton and Xenia Martinez.

"I really would like to see Dia's record take off and do well, and Xenia has made a great record. My heart is there for them," he said.

Perhaps more than anything, Shelton said he hopes his wife's new single, "Over You," makes an impact on fans and country radio. The couple wrote the song together about the death of Shelton's older brother, Richie, who died in a car accident in 1990.

Brad Paisley's goal is to set new ones. He spent 2011 on tour as the reigning Country Music Association entertainer of the year. He reunited country supergroup Alabama for his song "Old Alabama," and he wrote a book. He said he has some ideas "to reinvent" and "have some fun with the success" he's had, but he's also learned a lot about himself along the way.

"I have a career that's on a bit of autopilot in the sense that I feel I can rest easy a little bit more. ... I don't feel that people are just going to leave me. They're not going to just move on. We do well, and it's a great feeling," said Paisley. "I guess I've just learned to be a little more comfortable with who I am."

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