Gwyneth Paltrow record deal off - for now

Actress Gwyneth Paltrow's bid to conquer the world of music has hit the rocks - for now - after she allegedly demanded a "ridiculous figure" to sign a record deal.

It had been reported that the 38-year-old Coldplay groupie was lined up to sign a deal with Atlantic Records to lay down a country album, following her portrayal of a country music star in the critically-panned movie Country Strong.

"Atlantic bosses were very interested," a source at the label told the New York Post, "and [Atlantic owner] Warner chief Lyor Cohen was very supportive. But then the talks halted and the deal fizzled out. There was a rumour that Paltrow wanted $1 million to sign, but that is a ridiculous figure. Atlantic is still interested in signing her."

Paltrow's camp sniffily dismissed the setback, claiming that "Atlantic was not the only company pursuing her, and she still has not decided if she wants to record an album [although it] is still something she is considering".

Of course, what with her Goop.com lifestyle website and the recently released My Father's Daughter: Delicious, Easy Recipes Celebrating Family & Togetherness cookbook, the mother-of-two has her hands full at the moment.

But following her recent appearances in Glee, and the somewhat ill-advised duet with Cee-Lo Green at this year's Grammy awards, it's obvious that Paltrow has her sights set on a singing career.

Indeed, Johnny Dee noted in The First Post in March this year that she has a bit of form, having appeared in Duets, "a terrible 1990s karaoke film with Huey Lewis, and from the equally mediocre film Country Strong".

He went on: "The fact is that Paltrow is not that bad a singer - but she's not that great either. Her voice lacks character and emotion, it's plain and as taut as the skin over her bird-like bones."

Dee, for one, will be happy that Atlantic has stalled on signing Paltrow. He railed against such deals for actors wanting to dabble in music, stating "what really sticks in the craw is that Paltrow and actors like her are given these opportunities and platforms when thousands of talented singers and musicians are ignored - especially by major record companies such as Atlantic". ·