Selena Gomez is a multi-talented individual in her own right.
Yet for some reason some gossip sites are unable to talk about the star without dragging her ex-beau Justin Bieber and mutual pal Kendall Jenner into the picture.
Case in point: On Monday, Selena shared her pre-2014 American Music Awards show nerves with fans and the world via an Instagram pic of herself in a rehearsal studio.
“Rehearsing for the AMAs. Wasn’t prepared for how nervous I’d be, I mean I’ve done this before. But now it’s just me. All of me,” the 22-year-old wrote of her looming and first-time performance of her new single at the November 23 event.
Around five hours later, Selena posted a self-explanatory, inspiring message that seems to directly address her fears of standing on the AMA’s stage as a solo artist.
The positive quote, which was displayed on a black background with white lettering, read ,
“I am in competition with no-one. I have no desire to play the game of being better than anyone.”
The post went on, “I am simply trying to be better than the person I was yesterday.”
Inevitably, gossip sites have managed to make Gomez’s not really that cryptic post about Kendall and Justin dating chatter, even though Kendall strongly denied the rumors during a Nightline interview.
“No, he’s a long time friend of our family,” Kendall replied when asked about the rumors.
Jenner added, “Everybody loves to assume things, but no.”
The model then admitted she was single and that modeling came first in her life for the time being. “I’m truly focusing on my career, if it comes it comes.”
Couldn’t be clearer right?
Coming back to Selena’s pre-AMAs jitters.
Fans and observers may well be surprised that the former Disney star is feeling nervous, considering her years in the game and the fact that she is heading into this year’s AMAs on the wings of a comeback hit.
The Latina’s Justin Bieber-inspired epic “The Heart Wants What It Wants” gut-punched its way through the Internet on November 6, breaking hearts and dropping jaws while millions watched the anatomy of Jelena spill out before them.
Not just a timeless, quality song with a superb backing track and jump-off-the-page lyrics, Selena’s performance was a cut above typical music videos. In short: real emotion with a capital “R,” and it’s drawing old and new fans in by the truckload.
Taken from Selena’s forthcoming Greatest Hits album For You — released the day after the AMA’s — the Rock Mafia-collaborated single gave Gomez her second-biggest debut sales week (after 2011’s “Who Says”), hitting Billboard’s Digital Songs Chart at No. 6 with 102,000 downloads.
The song bowed on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart at No. 25 last week, and its continued ascent seems assured as it approaches 29 millions views on Vevo.
As well as her admitted “Just me, all of me” reason, Selena’s nerves might be down to the ultra personal nature of “Heart” and the fact that she will be singing about her ex in front of thousands just three months after they broke up.
Meanwhile, Justin and Selena appear to be at the uncommunicative stage of things.
Selena was spotted out on a dinner date with her former Wizard of Waverly Place co-star David Henri over the weekend while Justin unfollowed his ex-girlfriend on Instagram last week.
However, Selena and her Spring Breakers co-star Ashley Benson did attend the Sunday baby shower of Yael Cohen , who is the wife of Bieber’s manager, Scooter Braun. So, at least the former couple’s mutual circles still meet.
Roll onto November 23. Based on Selena’s “Heart” video, it should be quite the show.
[Images via Instagram ]