Kellie Pickler
Astrid Stawiarz, Getty Images

Happy birthday, Kellie Pickler! The country singing blond bombshell turns 25 today. Although you'd think she might be freaking out slightly at the prospect of a quarter of her life being through, Ms. Pickler is embracing her age. Yesterday, the 'Tough' singer and former 'American Idol' contestant posted this message to her Twitter account: "Tomorrow I will be halfway to 50! Truth be told ... I don't believe life really begins until 50 ... so I'm just warming up." In honor of her big day, Taste of Country is counting down a list of 10 things you may not have known about Kellie Pickler.

 

10

Her idea of a perfect date is eating cheeseburgers.


 
 

The former Sonic rollerskate waitress once told CMT, "I'm a really cheap date. A cheeseburger, and I'm good to go. I love cheese, so like a cheddar cheeseburger, I'm really good ... and I like to go to the movies and get the popcorn -- the buttered popcorn because it's always better at the movies -- and then go to Blockbuster and rent a movie and then go home and watch it ... I'm a little bit of a nerd."

 
9

She wants to guest star on the TV series 'House.'


 
 

The 'Red High Heels' songstress would love to dip her toe in the acting pool, especially for a guest spot on the FOX medical dram-com series, 'House.' Pickler has an interest in healthcare professions, and also once said, "Believe it or not, I used to take nursing classes."

 
8

She was raised by her grandparents.

 
 
Pickler's mother Cynthia gave birth to her when she was only 18, and after being abused by Kellie's father -- who served time in prison and struggled with drug and alcohol addictions -- she fled and turned custody over to Pickler's paternal grandparents, who raised her from the tender age of 2.
 
7

She's threatened to dye her hair black.


 
 

In the past, she has expressed concern over being labeled a "dumb blond" and people assuming that she isn't a sincere musician. "I went to management, and I was like, 'I'm coloring my hair black,'" Pickler said. "I want to be taken seriously as an artist."

 
6

She has battled depression.


 
 

Like millions of people all over the world, Pickler has struggled with depression. In 2008, after a breakup and having her parents resurface in her life, Pickler was an "emotional wreck." She told PEOPLE, "Everything in my professional life seemed great. But in my personal life, I was just crumbling." She took anti-depressants, but went off of them because ironically they made her "crazy."

 
5

Dolly Parton is her idol.


 
 

"Her songs are just the most incredible songs out there," Pickler said to CMT. "She's a great singer, a great performer. She can act. She's the whole package, and the personality is the icing on the cake. I think she's great, and I can only hope to follow in her footsteps." Pickler also relates to Dolly Parton , who's been able to overcome "life obstacles" and is "still walk[ing] around with a smile on her face."

 
4

She absolutely loves horror movies.


 
 

This is a surprising one for the country sweetheart! "I like bloody, gory, blood-and-guts flying everywhere. I love that kind of movie," Pickler said. "Is that weird? You wouldn't think that for me. I've always wanted to be in a scary movie. I would love to be the killer, like the villain. I know people would least suspect me to be the killer, not that I've ever killed anyone, or am going to."

 
3

Her dream duet partner is either Joan Jett or Pink.


 
 

Can't you just picture Pickler up onstage with either of those spunky, girl-power music icons? "I just got back from another USO tour -- we went to Iraq again -- and I had invited Joan Jett to come with me," she said to The Boot earlier this year. "She came with me and blew it out of the park. So maybe her or Pink."

 
2

She hopes to adopt a baby one day.


 
 

Even though she recently said that she is in no rush to have children just yet, Pickler has spoken of her hopes to a adopt a child in the past. "I've always wanted to adopt," she said to PEOPLE back in 2008, before she was married to songwriter Kyle Jacobs. "I wouldn't do it right now. I definitely have to get my priorities together first."

 
1

She wants to lick Clint Eastwood's face.


 
 

Along with horror movies and cheeseburgers, another one of Pickler's favorite things is ... actor Clint Eastwood. "Oh my God, I just want to lick his face! I love him!" Pickler told talk show buddy Ellen DeGeneres. "I probably wouldn’t lick his face because it would be disrespectful … I would think about it [though]." DeGeneres actually set up a meeting between Pickler and Eastwood, and Pickler sat on his lap the entire time, gushing over him.

 

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