Paltrow 'cool choice' for country singer

Director Shana Feste has revealed the reasons behind her decision to cast Gwyneth Paltrow as troubled country singer Kelly Canter in her new film Country Strong.

The film sees Paltrow take on the challenging role opposite Tron: Legacy actor Garrett Hedlund, who plays a rising young country star taken under the wing of Canter.

"She wasn't the first person you thought of when you think country singer, and I thought that was cool," Feste told The Hollywood Reporter. "I mean this is more like a character role for her so I was totally confident in her ability to pull it off."

Feste confirmed that she hadn't felt the need to make Paltrow audition for the role but admitted that they had for co-star Hedlund.

"We did audition Garrett though, we did a fun night of karaoke with Garrett," Feste added, revealing that Hedlund performed a Pearl Jam song to win his role in the film.

Country Strong is scheduled to open in US cinemas on January 7 and in the UK on March 4, 2011.