CLOTHESLINE: Airing Music City's Laundry--Miley Cyrus Red Carpet, Jessica Simpson booted by Label

Miley Cyrus on the red carpet in Nashville

Before attending the Thursday night Nashville Premiere of her soon-to-be summer blockbuster Hannah Montana: The Movie at Regal Cinemas Green Hills, Miley Cyrus made an appearance at neighboring Davis Kidd Bookseller in the Green Hills Mall where she signed copies of her book, Miles to Go (that's right, she's not only a singer and actress, she's also an author) for a few hundred lucky recipients of the bookstores' "golden ticket lottery." Still other fans were later treated to a private radio contest winners' concert at the Country Music Hall of Fame in downtown Nashville.

Then came time for the red carpet premiere in Music City Thursday night. The teen queen and her on-and -off-screen pop, Billy Ray attended the film's opening at The Green Hills Theater in Nashville. Miley's BFF and Hannah movie co-star, Taylor Swift (yes, she's her BFF, Pickler's BFF it's a young country star thing) posed for photos with the sea of youngsters as they anxiously awaited the arrival of the film's star. In addition to appearing in the film, Taylor can also be heard on the soundtrack.

Many of Nashville's biggest stars turned out for the red carpet event with their own Miley fans at their side. Former Dancing With The Stars contestant, Sara Evans brought her kids, as did Nashville Star's Phil Vassar, Martina McBride (did you see her appearance on Chesley Lately? too funny), The Apprentice's Clint Black and his lovely wife, former Knots Landing star Lisa Hartman-Black walked the red carpet with daughter Lily, Big Kenny Alphin (currently judging CMT's second season of Can You Duet) and his wife Christiev brought young Lincoln, Lady Antibellum's Charles Kelley and soon to be wife Casie McConnell treated her younger sis to the premiere. Jennifer Hanson and hubby Mark Nesler also walked the red carpet.

When Miley and Billy Ray finally appeared on the red carpet, the already screaming throngs of young fans grew to an inaudible hum. Miley graciously posed for fan pics and signed autographs. She was heard saying, "I think its awesome to be home showing the movie, because Nashville played just as big a role as any of the other characters in the movie." Referring to the plotline of Miley's dad tricking her into returning to Nashville to embrace where she came from as the young star struggles with her dual identity.

Next up for Miley, according to a press release from the Governor's office of Georgia, Disney's production of The Last Song, starring Miley will be shot this summer in another legendary southern locale, Savannah. The Last Song, penned by chick-flick author Nicholas Sparks (The Notebook) will be Miley's first major project not featuring her Hannah Montana character.

Also on the CLOTHESLINE: Pop-star-turned-reality-star-turned-actress-turned-country-singer, Jessica Simpson has been dropped from her country label. Her reps insist that she was always only on load to Sony Nashville, and that she will now return to recording for Epic, her pop label. While this past year has been a bit rocky for the singer, what with being booed at her first country gig, and most recently forgetting her own lyrics to three songs, her country release, Do You Know did reach number 1 on the country charts and garnered sales of over 100,000 (just 400,000 units shy of achieving gold record status with RIAA). Jessica's first attempt at twang came in 2005 when she needlessly covered the Nancy SInatra hit, These Boots Were Made For Walking for the big screen stinker The Dukes of Hazzard. If they had just licensed Loretta Lynn's 1966 version, we could all forget Simpson's past year like a Bobby Ewing dream!