"Glee" Star Naya Rivera To Record First LP

By Simone Hilliard

Glee's Cheeriest Cheerio, Naya Rivera, has more to celebrate than her two season stint on Fox's popular music show. It seems Santana's singing at McKinley High has landed Rivera a music deal. Naya is set to record her first solo effort after she wraps the Glee tour later this year, Columbia Records confirmed.

Rivera's first record is said to have jazz influences to match the singer's raspy vocals. While the future songstress has been acting since 1991, the now 24-year-old took up songwriting at age 15.

Rivera marks the third Glee star after Mark Salling and Matthew Morrison to release solo records, neither of which have been smash hits. While Gleeks everywhere are always clamoring for more projects from their favorite stars, we have to wonder why Rivera was tapped as the third to record a solo effort?

Undoubtedly Lea Michele has been courted from season one and has turned down numerous offers, but is Naya's rise to fame during season two as her character questions her sexuality reason enough to give her an lp?

Should Rivera wait a few more seasons before taking on the music world or could she break the mediocre Glee music chain?

Sound off on Santana's singing in the comments, or @MTV3.

Tags glee, Lea Michele, Mark Salling, Matthew Morrison, Naya Rivera