You’re no one in Hollywood unless you have a second career as a “designer” or are “working on an album.” I won’t even call most of the celebrities who have second careers in music musicians. Even with quotation marks, it’s still too offensive. The holy grail is getting all three. The list of celebs who have supposedly designed clothing lines is ridiculously long. By and large they didn’t design a thing, everyone has just replaced the word “endorsed” with “design.” Singing is a little harder to fudge – though computers sure can help.

Hayden Panettiere has jumped on the bandwagon and decided to join the ranks of other actors who struggle for musical credibility.

Hayden Panettiere is ready to work her vocal cords. She signed a deal with Hollywood Records before her Heroes TV show became a big hit and now she is ready to devote her time to working on a pop career.

Her new reggae-flavored song – Wake Up Call – has been written by Andreas ‘Quiz’ Romdhane and Josef Larossi, who have previously churned out hits for Halliwell, Diana Ross and Westlife.

She has also been working with U.S. fashion brand Candie’s, who will feature the track in a new summer ad campaign. The company will also pay for the star to shoot a video to accompany the tune.

The ad campaign will begin at the end of July, while the song will be released digitally Aug. 5. “Wake Up Call” will appear on Panettiere’s still-untitled debut album, which is slated for 2009.

[From Daily Stab]

I used to dislike Hayden, but then she got all “save the dolphins” and actually walked the walk – something you can’t say for most celebs. So I guess if there’s any celeb I’d grant my magical good wishes to, it’d be her. But I can’t help but wonder about the wisdom of releasing a reggae song. We’ll see.

Here’s Hayden Panettiere at the Glamour Women Of The Year Awards 2008 held at Berkeley Square Gardens in London on Tuesday. Images thanks to WENN