Picture Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles as a deranged stalker and partner Kristian Bush as her evil henchman. That's the premise of the soon to be released video for their new single, 'Stuck Like Glue.' The song, which was just delivered to country radio stations on Friday and goes on sale at iTunes today (July 27), is the first from their upcoming album, 'The Incredible Machine,' due out October 19.

Calling The Boot from Wisconsin, where they just played 'Stuck Like Glue' live for the first time Friday night, Jennifer was excited to talk about the single, album, video and tour. She calls the new single "catchy, fun, lighthearted, energetic [and] sassy." It also has an unexpected reggae break in the middle she's hoping will "pleasantly surprise" fans.

While she says those reggae beats felt natural in the song, including them was also part of what Jennifer feels is Sugarland's mission to widen the audience for country music.

"We're always trying to bring people into the genre and say, 'Look, country is hip and country is fun and country has something to offer. While there are traditionalists, it's not your grandma's country. Come on over.'"

Jennifer and Kristian wrote 'Stuck Like Glue' with songwriters Kevin Griffin and Shy Carter last February, while they were cutting the new album. Jennifer says it's one of several songs they actually wrote in the studio during the recording process.

In readying their fourth studio album, Jennifer says she is happy with the place Sugarland has carved out for themselves in country music, which includes eight million records sold and six No. 1 singles, but she's still striving for more.

"As artists, we are always wanting to better ourselves and to develop our craft and to get better at not only reaching the human heart, but at . . . stretching ourselves to see who else we can bring into the country world and who else we can speak to," she says. "I'm always satisfied, but I don't know that I'll ever be complacent.

"There are different artists who musically end up following different paths. Some are more of the traditionalists, and I think that's great. We need that in every genre. And then some of us, like Kristian and myself, are more of the pioneers ... the explorers. We want to explore new territory and allow the genre to grow because, as we all know, if we don't grow we stagnate. So, especially now, it's a super fertile time in country music to allow it to grow."

In recording 'The Incredible Machine,' Jennifer says she and Kristian had a ton of fun because they kept things loose in the studio and in the songwriting. "We had such a good time writing this record because we really allowed ourselves to play," she says.

They had an equal amount of time shooting the video, which is currently in the final stages of completion. Jennifer says it offers "a crazy twist on the storyline of the song. I play a crazy stalker and Kristian is my henchman. I have an obsessive object of my affection," portrayed by actor Ryan McPartlin, who plays Devon Woodcomb (aka "Captain Awesome") in the NBC series 'Chuck.'

Jennifer likens her video persona to the Dolores Umbridge character from the 2007 film 'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix,' albeit a "sexy Dolores Umbridge."

"Everything is all sweet and colorful [with] pinks and reds and puppies and unicorns and stuff, and yet she is crazy and deranged, which makes it even creepier ... It was fun to play."

As for the new album, Jennifer calls it "really diverse" and "very anthemic. It has all the fun and excitement that we like to put into our records and singles, but also it has depth and heart and soul in it."

Kristian plays all the electric guitar parts on the album, and Jennifer says, "That was exciting for us and for him to be able to push himself in that way. He's a wonderful guitar player and has such a sense, also, of the groove and phrasing and ways that I sing that it's a cool combination.

"Obviously we're growing as artists and stretching, so I think there will be some fun new ways that you will hear us both," she says of the album. She expects fans will also be able to hear a lot of their influences, both past and present.

"Like everybody else, we have a long history and background of music, where we came from and what we like and what shaped us," she says, noting they've pulled from all of those things. "I hope you'll hear some Blondie influence, some Chrissie Hynde and, obviously, it's me at the same time. I'm not reinventing the wheel here, but I do have fun playing around with lots of different stylings." Also in the mix is the influence of newer bands they're inspired by now, including MGMT and French rock band Phoenix.

Asked if there are plans to work any singles to other radio formats besides country, Jennifer says, "I hope so. In the same way I want to bring people into the country format, I hope that this [album] can bring country to other formats. I hope it speaks to people across the board in that way. I don't see why it shouldn't. That's healthy for the format in general."

Jennifer is one of the few stars who have largely managed to keep their personal lives out of the press and keep the focus on the music. Asked if that's by design or luck, she says, "I think a bit of both. I find the personal life of celebrities kind of boring. It's just like anybody else's [life], it just happens to be on a camera. We all go through the same kinds of things. We all have struggles and challenges and heartaches and celebrations.

"For me, it's like my personal life is my personal life, but what really excites me is the music. So I focus on that. I put so much of myself and my heart and my life into my music that there is a lot fans automatically get just by listening to the music and watching or reading interviews. I'm pretty open and honest and definitely strive for my own authenticity, so I think that [translates] across the board and it doesn't become this mysterious shroud ... If you want to know who I am, I put it out there in my music and my interviews, so go check that out. [But] my personal life, my loved ones, those I want to protect."

Sugarland are currently in the midst of The Incredible Machine tour, which kicked off in April and will hit 55 cities. Jennifer is grateful that fans are coming out and filling the venues every night.

"I feel really lucky that the fans are showing up and buying tickets and we've had packed out houses and sold out shows," she says. "I definitely don't take it for granted, especially in the current climate, economically and within the industry.

"We've put a lot of energy and effort and investment into this show, and a lot of artistic thought ahead of time to plan it and make it something special. I think the fans are showing up because it is a different kind of show.

"We're obviously up to our usual bag of tricks," she adds. "We try to make it exciting and throw some surprises in there that you might not expect, and also just let our hair down and have fun. It's music, not an appendectomy. Let's go have a good time, and forget your troubles for an hour and a half."

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