As Rihanna Reigns, Ciara Stumbles Out the Gate

Don't call it a pushback.
While the music world watches, Ciara's album "Fantasy Ride," which was supposed to debut this year and propel her to megastar status (she even did a nearly nude photoshoot to build attention), has ... been postponed until spring 2009.
Even with the T-Pain-produced "Go Girl," the lead single peaked at No. 79 on the charts.
But now Ciara faces an impossible task as her album faces being pushed into the whirlwind buildup of the last pop diva out there: Beyonce.
The "Sasha Fierce" LP, which got a shot in the arm last week when the single "Like a Boy" hit No. 1 in the UK, will notably be an event in U.S. record stores as the economy continues to clamp down on spending and credit. But not only is Beyonce staking her claim to precious consumer dollars, but Rihanna is gearing up for a major throwdown; on the male side of things Chris Brown is reaping awards, and Neyo is busy choreographing in support of his "Year of the Gentleman" CD. Her handlers thought aligning with T-Pain would automatically put her in the stratosphere, but the plan has apparently backfired. Now can Ciara move serious numbers in the spring? How can she possibly follow up a nearly nude photoshoot in Vibe to promote her pushed-back album? Go, girl.
Update: "Fantasy Ride" is set for a May 5 release.