Gwyneth Paltrow has caught the Nashville bug. After a year of vigorous training for her role as Kelly Canter -- a character she calls a "hybrid of Faith [Hill] and Courtney Love" -- for the upcoming movie 'Country Strong,' Paltrow now has a love for country music and the world surrounding it.

"I never expected that it would become a part of who I am," Paltrow admits in an exclusive interview with The Boot. "It was a completely unexpected side-effect of doing the movie … I'm completely converted."

From September to January of last year, Paltrow refreshed her vocals (she also sang in her role for 2001's 'Duets') by taking voice lessons and working with a speech coach to obtain a subtle, twangy dialect. The Academy Award-winning actress also took up guitar lessons for the role -- her strumming has been teasingly regarded as "better than [U2's] Bono, not as good as the Edge," according to her husband, Coldplay frontman Chris Martin.

But while researching and listening to Hank Williams Jr. and Johnny Cash, Paltrow fell in love with them and the country music industry.

"There's a real love and respect between people in the industry here, which is palpable and sets the stage for creativity and that kind of freedom when you feel supported and respected by other musicians," she beams. "It sets you up to win, and the whole town is brimming with creativity."

She even admits her admiration for Miranda Lambert's music and the songwriting skills of Hillary Lindsey, who's penned tunes for Carrie Underwood, Faith Hill and Martina McBride. Lindsey wrote a song that Paltrow performs at the end of the film.

Be sure to read the entire interview, which also details how Paltrow felt liberated playing Kelly Canter and how she overcame performing in front of arena crowds.

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