Gomez gets girl-power boost in new music and film

NEW YORK — Katy Perry and Britney Spears appear on a CD together but it's not the latest "Now" compilation.

Rather, the pop singers have written songs on Selena Gomez & the Scene's new album, "When the Sun Goes Down."

"I did have a lot of artists that I was very lucky enough to have songs written by and it's a good, uplifting album," Gomez said of her third CD. "It's really fun and very dance-y and I hope people like it."

Spears co-wrote the dance song "Whiplash," while Perry co-penned "That's More Like It. Singer Priscilla Renea _ who co-wrote Rihanna's "California King Bed" and Cheryl Cole's "Promise This" _ co-penned three songs on Gomez's album, including the lead single and Top 40 hit "Who Says." And the disc has a writing credit and guest appearance from British singer Pixie Lott.

"I think it's a powerful CD," Gomez said in a recent interview.

The 18-year-old's first two albums have reached gold status. The new record _ which has three songs co-penned by Gomez _ is out next week.

Days after her disc's release, Gomez will get another girl-power boost with the July 1 release of her new movie, "Monte Carlo," which also stars Leighton Meester of "Gossip Girl" and was co-produced by Nicole Kidman.

Gomez says leaving Los Angeles to shoot in Paris and Budapest was "so refreshing." But the grueling promotional tour that has followed _ maybe not so much.

The nationwide campaign, including a string of mall appearances, was recently interrupted when Gomez was hospitalized in Los Angeles for exhaustion, malnourishment and low iron.

The singer-actress, who is dating teen pop star Justin Bieber, says she enjoys having friends "in the business" and others who are not.

Source from Associated Press