Carly Rae Jepsen

Up on the “sunny shores of Canada” (a description we’ve borrowed from the cult Canuck cartoon Clone High), Carly Rae Jepsen is a well known pop commodity: the 26-year-old finished third on the fifth season of Canadian Idol back in 2007; released her debut album, Tug of War, in 2008; and recently topped charts in her home country with her instantly infectious single “Call Me Maybe.” Then she went viral stateside this year courtesy of the Canadian teen-pop messiah himself, Justin Bieber, who recorded a homemade video of himself and pals (including girlfriend Selena Gomez, and Ashley Tisdale) busting a move to Jespen’s “Maybe.” Now she’s signed with U.S. label Interscope, is gearing up for American shows (including a gig on Ellen), and has already recorded a duet with the Biebs. Below, she tells ELLE.com about how she became a Belieber, and what other Canadian goodies we’re missing out on.

ELLE: And you’ve met since, right?
CRJ: He flew me down to L.A. I got to meet him and his whole team. That night, he played me his new album and asked me what I thought of the fourth track. I said, That’s my favorite! Then he asked if I want to do a duet? I was like coach outlet, What? Yes! They put me in the booth and I recorded the song that night.

ELLE: Can we throw in Caesars? The idea of a Bloody Mary with clamato juice (tomato and clam broth) repels everyone here—and nobody will make it!
CRJ: You know, I’ve tried to order that and they just look at me like I’m from Mars. But it’s so good! And it’s kind of healthy, right? Well, maybe not with the vodka.

ELLE: How did that Justin Bieber-recorded video happen?
Carly Rae Jepsen: I truly don’t know coach outlet! Justin apparently came home from Christmas and heard the song playing on the radio. Then one day, I was on the phone with my mom while checking Facebook and I saw that someone had posted the video. I was like coach outlet, “That boy looks a lot like Justin Bieber…wait a second. Mom, I gotta go.”