Once the fresh-faced teen star of the WB soap Summerland, pop singer Jesse McCartney has shed his clean-cut image to follow in the footsteps of bad boy Justin Timberlake.

Like Timberlake, McCartney put his musical chops to work in a boy band before delighting teenage girls with his baby face and pop songs like “Beautiful Soul.” These days, McCartney is showing his grown-up side with a new album, the aptly named Departure, and its lead single, “Leavin’,” which he wrote at the Palms. He also helped catapult superstar Leona Lewis to radio success by co-writing her hit song “Bleeding Love” with OneRepublic singer Ryan Tedder.

McCartney’s sound has evolved as he has aged in the spotlight, and he gradually shed simple, cheerful love songs in favor of dance beats and sexual lyrics. Will he inherit Timberlake’s coveted throne? Only time will tell.

Jesse McCartney plays Mandalay Bay Beach September 13 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $32.

By Caitlin McGarry

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