Is Gwyneth Paltrow's 'Country' comeback Oscar gold?

A lot of awards season seers are whispering 'Oscar nod' for Gwyneth Paltrow's powerful role in "Country Strong," in which she stars, sings and dances. Especially Shana Fiske, who wrote and directed the film.
 
"I'd love to see Gwyneth get the recognition she deserves," Shana told the Dish Rag at Monday's Elle Women in Hollywood Awards. "This is a complete departure for her. She plays an alcoholic in desperate need of  a comeback. She sings, plays guitar and dances... This is a real character role for her and she slips right into it." 

Gwyneth, who was one of the actresses honored at the WIH event, sings so well that she's going to perform the title song onstage at the upcoming Country Music Awards on Wednesday (Nov 10).

But Shana also has high praise for Gwyneth's costars, "Gossip Girl" Leighton Meester and Garrett Hedlund, who stars in Disney's upcoming "Tron 2"

On Leighton Meester:

"Leighton is a blast to watch. She stepped off the set of "Gossip Girl" and she held her own next to Gwyneth Paltrow. She really proved she can do  anything."



On Garrett Hedlund:

"We put him through country music boot camp. We started with Merle Haggard, we watched old videos of Kris Kristopherson, and Waylon Jennings. He just immersed himself in that world. You don't see young actors work that hard. Garrett was so professional and dedicated and he had to learn to sing and play guitar. Usually, young actors just say, 'I've learned my lines, I've got a six pack, I'm ready to go.'

Oh, what hath Taylor Lautner wrought?

What do you think Gwyneth's Oscar chances are? Will playing an alcoholic country crooner help her reprise her 1998 "Shakespeare in Love"  Best Actress win?

Playing a country singer was Oscar gold for Sissy Spacek in "Coal Miner's Daughter" (1980) and Reese Witherspoon in  "Walk the Line" (2005). Just sayin'.

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