"Didn’t feel like I sang that well in those": Leighton Meester responds to surprise release of songs from her debut album

Leighton Meester has responded to the surprise release of songs from her debut album by saying that she “didn't know” that the songs were made available to fans.

For the unversed, the Gossip Girl actress officially began her musical career in 2009. Her two songs, including Body Control and Your Lies Are the Truth / Almost Perfect, originally intended for her unreleased 2009 pop album were surprisingly released on streaming platforms in August 2025.

In an interview with People magazine, she said:

“I hate to say, but I don't exactly know what [happened]… I've had other stuff going on. I had a show come out this year, and I was working on that, so I just hadn't really paid attention.”

In another interview with Bustle, Meester said:

“I just didn’t feel like I sang that well in those songs. That’s why I stopped doing that style of songwriting, because I didn’t feel really good when I would sing it. That was something that I figured out in my 20s.”

Continue to read more.

All we know about Leighton Meester’s music career

Born April 9, 1986, in Texas, Leighton Meester was born while her parents, Constance and Doug Meester, were serving a federal prison sentence for their involvement in a marijuana-smuggling ring. She grew up with her grandparents in Marco Island, Florida.

In April 2009, Leighton Meester signed a recording contract with Universal Republic and worked on an electronic album with JR Rotem, Kara Dioguardi, and several other producers. She released her first single in the fall of 2009 and featured Robin Thicke.

She released her first studio album titled Heartstrings in October 2014 by Vagrant and Hotly Wanting. The songs were written by Leighton Meester, and the album was produced by Jeff Trott. It received generally positive reviews. It debuted at number 1 on the Billboard Heatseekers Albums chart upon release.

The 39-year-old actress actively stopped pursuing music as her career because she thought she “didn't sing that well” at that time.

At the age of 10, Leighton Meester’s mother, Constance, found her a talent agent. She then relocated to New York along with her brothers, where she started her modeling career. She signed with Wilhelmina Models and appeared in campaigns, including for Ralph Lauren.

At the age of 14, she moved to Los Angeles, where she supported her family with her modelling assignments. She lived with her mother in an apartment at the corner of Hollywood and La Brea. During that time, Meester took acting classes. She said in an interview with Marie Claire:

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“I couldn't relate to kid stuff. 'Jimmy doesn't like me!' Who cares? I was worried we didn't have gas money or food. Those were my concerns.”

In 1999, she made her television debut with Law & Order. Later on, she landed roles in Tarzan, 7th Heaven, 24, Veronica Mars, House, and Entourage. When she turned 20, Gossip Girl came as a game-changer in her life. The show went on to become a massive hit as she gained fame with her role as Blair Waldorf.

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