Kellie Pickler to open for Taylor Swift tour

Kellie Pickler to open Taylor Swift tour (USA Today)

Kellie Pickler will open Taylor Swift's 50-city Fearless Tour 2009, which kicks off April 23 in Evansville, Ind.

The two singers bonded when they toured with Brad Paisley in 2007. "We clicked pretty well," Kellie told me the other day. "We make each other laugh. Her mom was so good to me out on the road -- I call her Mama Swift. She just took really good care of me on the road. Her parents took me under their wing, and Taylor and I have been like sisters ever since."