Carlene Carter has received excellent reviews for her latest album, "Stronger," in which she tackles some of her personal demons. In the process, she's attracted some rather famous fans, including Elvis Costello and Elton John's songwriting partner, Bernie Taupin.

Elvis had her open shows for him in Memphis and Nashville, while Bernie showed up when she played the Los Angeles club The Mint. Former Southern Pacific guitarist John McFee, who produced her CD, played guitar at that show, in which she played all the new material, plus her hits "Every Little Thing" and "I Fell In Love," as well as a Carter Family song and "Ring Of Fire," written by Carlene's mom, June Carter.

Stronger chronicles Carlene's emotional journey after she was forced to confront her own addictions, plus the deaths of June, stepfather Johnny Cash, sister Rosie and former boyfriend Howie Epstein, known for his work as a member of Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers.

"Everybody's lost somebody, got their heart broken, wanted to take the snot out of someone, been madly in love — it's part of real life if you're living it," Carlene observes. "Once I started writing, it all flooded out of me. I've always been one of those people — once I start something, I have to get it all out, because it gets me."

If Elvis Costello and Bernie Taupin seem odd Carlene fans, they're really not. Elvis once recorded a country album in Nashville and used to work with her ex-husband, British rocker Nick Lowe. Bernie has had his own country successes in addition to his work with Elton. He wrote the Willie Nelson & Lee Ann Womack hit "Mendocino County Line."