Gossip Girl's Leighton Meester: Pop Star In Training

You love to hate her on Gossip Girl as the witty, yet conniving Blair Waldorf, but now Leighton Meester is putting down the Fendi bag and picking up a mic. The 23-year-old starlet already made a big splash on the music scene this summer, when she teamed up with Cobra Starship on the hit "Good Girls Go Bad." Now she is churning out singles of her own and has many music critics buzzing.

The actress turned singer landed a recording contract earlier this year and is slated to release her first album by early 2010.

The Gossip Girl star recently performed at the Grand Opening of the American Eagle Store in Times Square. She brought the house down with a four-song set. Guests in attendance included Gossip Girl co-stars Jessica Szohr and Michelle Trachtenberg as well as Entourage star Adrian Grenier.

Her latest single "Somebody To Love" featuring R&B crooner Robin Thicke is already climbing the charts. Watch the video:

Watch Leighton and Cobra Starship in "Good Girls Go Bad" music video: