Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Kellie Pickler turns 24 — yep, still just 24 — today, and it’s looking like year number 24 might be something special for the country music star and season five American Idol finalist.

For starters, she just kicked off a new tour as an opening act for Rascal Flatts in Raleigh, N.C.

Perfect spot to celebrate her birthday, since North Carolina is her home state. And Kellie tweeted that she planned to celebrate all weekend long. She even sent out a twitpic of her first birthday cake — shaped like a red high-heel shoe, of course.

As for the tour, it includes two Pennsylvania dates — Aug. 12 in Hershey and Aug. 13 in Scranton. There’s also a show the next night at Jiffy Lube Live, near Washington, D.C.

Meanwhile, Kellie’s busy working on album number three. I haven’t seen anything on a release date. But the producer is apparently going to be Frank Liddell, the same guy who has helped produce all three of Miranda Lambert’s albums.

Kellie talked a little about the album during an interview with FOX while she was in Nashville for the CMA Music Festival, saying it will feature “more of a traditional country” sound. Here’s a link to the video.

Finally, if you haven’t heard, Kellie has something else in common with Miranda Lambert. With Carrie Underwood, too.

She announced on MySpace last week that she’s engaged to Kyle Jacobs — the hottest guy in country music that no one’s heard of, by her estimation. Go here for a photo of her and Kyle.

Anyway, Kyle apparently popped the question on a Florida beach at sunset on June 15. And Kellie says she’s “in the happiest place I’ve ever been” thanks to him and her renewed relationship with her dad, who will be walking her down the wedding aisle.

As for the fact that she, Carrie and Miranda are all engaged at the same time.

“We’re all just happy for each other,” Kellie said. “I’m sure we’ll be having some girl talk and we’ll share ideas. We just keep joking about how there must be something in the water!”