Why are you surprised? She's obviously trying to break from the tradition of country singers being more conservative and trying to be more like Hollywood than Nashville. She has publicly bashed Toby Keith for singing about American soldiers and making America the theme of his concerts.
Yep! Some people just need the adorlation that only Hollywood and the liberal circles can provide. The more outrageous they become, the more love they feel from these people. I've always thought this is what drove Arianna Huffington over to the dark side...being the little social (butter) fly that she was. It is their own insecurity that is really showing.