Kellie Pickler Takes It Slow

Kellie Pickler says love is not the most important thing in her life right now.

“I just don’t put that as a priority on my list of things to do,” the 22-year-old North Carolina native tells me. “I think most important right now is my career, and I’ve got the rest of my life to settle down and get married and do that whole thing. Right now I’m young, and I should focus on what’s most important like friends and my job and trying to establish myself as a country artist. That’s the most important thing for myself.”

She adds, “People settle too fast, too early.”

Kellie is taking things slowly with her go-to guy, Nashville songwriter Kyle Jacobs.

“We write together, and see movies. When I come in off the road, I like to crash and be a bum and sit at home on the couch and just talk. We don’t really have to be doing anything. We usually just enjoy each other’s company and make each other laugh.”

What kind of guy would be perfect for her good pal Carrie Underwood?

“It’s hard to find someone who can understand someone like her and my schedule as well. But someone who’s trusting and funny and a good guy who is going to treat her right.”

Any celebs?

“It’s hard to date other celebrities because that’s really difficult. It’s better to find someone who is more real. It would be nice to have someone bring you back down to the real world.”

Catch Kellie performing on the CMA Awards, which air live from Nashville Wednesday from 8-11 ET.